Smart technology will drive energy savings, cut service calls in new MOB

A nearly completed reuse project for a new medical office building (MOB) and ambulatory center in New York City will include smart building systems that are projected to reduce energy use by as much as 25 percent.         

The new 50,000-square-foot MOB developed by owner Regent Medical Properties LLC, Glen Rock, N.J., will benefit from the Smart Building as a Service program delivered by ECS Global Solutions, an integrated building systems provider.

A new 50,000-square-foot medical office building and ambulatory center in New York City set to open in October includes open-architecture building automation for HVAC, intelligent LED lighting, an internet protocol (IP) camera and card access, and integrated submetering.

Photo courtesy of Stonehill Taylor Architects

The technology includes open-architecture building automation for HVAC, intelligent LED lighting, an internet protocol (IP) camera and card access, and integrated submetering.

The building automation will integrate data from other building systems to optimize the HVAC system’s energy usage, says Len Pisano, chief development officer, ECS Global Solutions. In addition, the analytics tools will deliver real-time operational data tied to fault detection and system diagnostics.

The LED lighting system includes a wireless control platform that enables occupants to adjust lighting to their personal requirements, while taking advantage of savings associated with changes in occupancy patterns and daylight harvesting, Pisano says.

The unified security platform blends IP-based security systems within a single intuitive interface to simplify building operations. The access control and video surveillance capabilities include intrusion detection and analytics, he adds. 

The submetering will provide accurate tenant energy usage data and also will allow for correlation of building system energy usage to total building consumption. This real-time energy data will be a critical variable in dynamic control and system optimization, he says.

The system integration provides precise energy and operations management, while delivering round-the-clock, real-time data analytics on facility system performance throughout the year. In addition. Pisano projects that the smart technology will reduce service calls and equipment failures by as much as 30 percent.

The system was financed through the Efficiency Made Easy program offered by Constellation, Baltimore, a retail supplier of power, natural gas and energy products and services for residential and commercial properties.

Constellation's program enables its customers to implement energy efficiency and other solutions without up-front capital expenditures.

Through Efficiency Made Easy, eligible businesses may be able to fund projects through their monthly energy bill. Besides potentially experiencing immediate energy cost savings, users pay for the upgraded technology over the term of their energy supply agreement.

"This project exemplifies what is possible with a bit of forward thinking and collaborative planning," Pisano says. "As an existing customer, Regent Medical Properties recognized the absolute value of integrating smart building technologies for their facilities. Regent brought the design teams together from the start of the project, which allowed for a seamless delivery without incurring any premium costs for installation and a significantly lower cost of operations through the life cycle of the facility."

The building is fully leased and will be ready for occupancy in October. Designed by Stonehill & Taylor architects and engineered by the AKF Group, the facility will include surgical suites, an ambulatory surgery center and various medical offices.

"Our goal is to provide an environment for patients and physicians alike, one that allows for the safest, most comfortable and efficient delivery of care," says Barton Schack, chief investment officer, Regent Medical Properties, project owner and developer. "We believe that, in part, through this technology, we have created a facility unlike any other in New York City."