6 Essential Technologies for Managing Modular Rooms in Commercial Spaces
Modular rooms are a growing trend within commercial properties as they cater to occupant needs of nearly any type. For building owners, creating spaces that are modular leads to cost efficiencies and a higher rate of speed at which tenants can enter into leasing agreements.
As market trends move toward changes in hybrid workforces and what tenants require to keep their workforces productive, investments in modular spaces with flexible technology are a must-have. Here are six technologies that help you achieve the modular room flexibility you’re looking for.
1. Dynamic Room Management Software
Specialized software can be used to analyze how rooms are being utilized today and offer data-driven recommendations for improved space management, giving facilities managers the ability to proactively allocate spaces based on demand and avoid underutilization or overcrowding. Many also offer built-in scheduling and booking solutions for hybrid spaces and meeting rooms. These systems can even integrate with other building systems to support energy savings by automating lighting and HVAC settings based on actual room usage (more on these features below). Examples of dynamic room management software include Meta ControlRoom3D, RoomGPT, and RoomAI.
2. IoT-enabled Furniture
Embedding smart technologies into furniture is a recent advancement in modular space management. With embedded IoT, building operators can adapt to new furniture layouts automatically and incorporate lighting and network connectivity autonomously. For hybrid environments, individual users can set the furniture and associated technologies (HVAC, ambient lighting, etc.) to their liking, and the technology will implement those settings once the user begins interacting with it.
3. Wi-Fi and 5G
Modular spaces suffer greatly when the associated smart building technology is tethered to network cabling for connectivity. To solve this problem, many are relying more heavily on Wi-Fi and private 5G as a way to “cut the cord” that allows the technology to be deployed in nearly any room configuration. Both private 5G and Wi-F5 6E deliver wire-like experiences without the hassle of constantly recabling.
[RELATED: How In-Building Connectivity Transforms Hospitality Experiences]
4. Smart Lighting
A must-have in modern dynamic rooms, smart lighting allows for easy lighting adjustment to fit any layout. A new advancement in smart lighting is the use of smart light fixtures in conjunction with light IoT sensors to adjust dynamically without human intervention.
5. HVAC Automation
Smart HVAC systems deliver granular heating and cooling zone controls based on occupancy or user preference. This allows for personalized comfort to be achieved while restricting energy usage in room locations that go unoccupied. Like smart lighting, the combination of a smart HVAC controller and occupancy sensors allows for the automatic adjustment of heating/cooling in real-time.
6. Modular Access Control and Surveillance Systems
Legacy access control systems and surveillance cameras are static in nature and often hinder the ability to make significant changes to room layouts. However, physical security vendors are beginning to release systems that rely on wireless connectivity and power over Ethernet (PoE) to make relocating door controllers and camera equipment around buildings and modular rooms much easier. Additionally, the use of modular mounts allows building operators to easily mount and remount equipment where needed while keeping them tamperproof from vandalism or theft.
Creating Spaces That Are Attractive to Occupants and Tenants
As businesses begin to discontinue work-from-home policies in favor of hybrid workforce options, building owners must adapt to their tenants’ changing needs. As such, creating modular office and room options driven by technology creates an attractive choice. This futureproofs properties through operational efficiency without significant manual overhead by way of built-in intelligence and automation.
