When Alexander Stoyanov talks about buildings, his eyes start to sparkle. “Buildings are not just four walls and a ceiling, they are much, much more. Buildings in which we live, work, teach, learn, and communicate define to a great extent the way we feel, perform, and perceive the world and realize ourselves as individuals,” he explains.
He knows what he is talking about. Alexander has been heading the Building Technologies (BT) division of Siemens Bulgaria for more than seven years. He is also responsible for BT business operations in Albania, Kosovo, and Macedonia. “People spend about 90% of their lives indoors and buildings have a great influence on them. So, our story is not about buildings, it’s about what buildings make possible for those using them,” he says.
The industry is going digital
Alexander’s entire career has been dedicated to the building sector and, as a result, he has witnessed technology concepts evolve over the years. “Recently, the construction industry has been evolving rapidly and on a large scale due to the fast penetration of digitalization and the Internet of Things,” he says, looking out at the Sofia skyline. “Various innovations have challenged our understanding of how a building should look and function, and all these changes are extremely exciting for people like me who have dedicated their professional career to turning buildings into better places to live and work.”
Alexander and his team have equipped some of the most emblematic buildings of Bulgaria’s capital with Siemens’ state-of-the-art building technologies. “Whether it’s an office building in a big city, data center in a small town or a hotel in a ski resort, buildings have to meet certain criteria — to be safe and secure, to provide comfort and energy efficiency, and be run by systems that are easy to manage and maintain. That’s what we offer to our clients,” he says.
Alexander believes investors in Bulgaria are increasingly aware of the benefits of modern building technologies when it comes to ensuring the smooth and cost-efficient functioning of a structure throughout its entire lifecycle. “A decade ago, building technologies were considered a luxury ‘extra’ by real estate developers. Today we are witnessing a new understanding of their necessity and advantages.”
He stresses that digitalization has had a tremendous effect upon all industries on a global scale, and on the construction business in particular. “These advancements create new, unprecedented opportunities to harness the power of Big Data and digital technologies to the benefit of investors, constructors, and users,” he says.
Getting the most out of buildings
But, of course, the right technologies should be used to maximize these benefits. The primary goal of building technology in offices is to create a safe, attractive, and comfortable work environment and — when it comes to the buildings of the future — Siemens can offer a broad portfolio of solutions and services that are consistently expanded with new offerings.
HVAC systems, lighting, shading, room automation, and security systems must all be convenient, personalized, and easy to manage. Increasingly, it’s possible to monitor and control these via mobile devices and apps.
“There is a vast potential — not only for boosting the productivity of businesses in terms of use of resources for electricity, water, wastewater, heating, and cooling, but even more so for people’s personal satisfaction with their lives and work.” After all, says Alexander, it’s important not to forget why we construct buildings, which is to serve the needs of people.
At the same time, the increased expectations of residents and employees with regard to their living and working conditions places a huge amount of pressure on investors and employers. “If someone feels secure, comfortable, and safe in the environment in which they work, live, and grow, they are on their way to achieving their personal and professional potential,” says Alexander.
For example, the 2017 Meta Study by Continental Automated Buildings Association (CABA) shows that consistent measures to improve the work environment can reduce illnesses and absences by up to 20%.
“We have to find a way to establish an emotional connection between a building and its occupants. Once we do that, we can use the data to figure out why people enjoy their time indoors or at work, and what makes a certain space better for productivity or enjoyment than others. We need to remember that employees will increasingly expect a digital user experience from their workspace,” says Alexander.
Buildings can give people a wellbeing boost
He is convinced that modern building technologies can create a more flexible, engaging, and creative work environment and have a significant impact on the productivity and wellbeing of employees. “Recently, I came across a very interesting study by the global consulting firm PwC. It shows that positive working conditions are more important to 75% of all employees than salary! This proves that investments in buildings are actually investments in employees’ productivity and wellbeing. And, at the end of the day, these are investments that benefit everyone, including companies.”
But it comes with a price.
The increasing complexity of construction projects makes coordination with current tools and workflows more difficult. Consequently, unbudgeted costs, unreliable schedules, and insufficient quality cause challenges for everyone involved.
Building Information Modeling (BIM) is the answer to challenges that cannot be mastered with traditional methods. Its holistic approach and parallel planning capabilities lead to concerted construction and smooth operation. The use of a digital twin over the entire lifecycle of a building in something fellow Future Maker Dajana Molitorisova recently discussed with us while explaining the potential this presents to build a virtual library of buildings. In addition, the recently launched Siemens Premium Office leverages the digitalization of building technologies to transform workplaces into smart, high-performance offices that provide employees with attractive places to do their jobs.
“Digitalization makes buildings talk,” says Alexander. “We need to ensure that we understand what they — and their users — are telling us. Because of our industry knowledge and digitalization skills, we can help customers to understand and take advantage of the opportunities presented by building data. It requires the right combination of people, technology, and services to turn buildings into perfect places.”
Alexander Stoyanov joined Siemens in 2011 as Country Division Manager at Building Technologies Department, Bulgaria. He is based in Sofia. Find out more about working at Siemens.
Illustration: Rachel Fingleton
