Today’s commercial real estate buildings rely not only on physical infrastructure but also on critical connected digital infrastructure: the integrated technologies that enable people, devices, building systems and applications to communicate reliably and securely.

The components of the average connected digital infrastructure range from physical pathways, including equipment rooms, risers, cable trays, cable and fiber, to mission-critical connectivity networks such as DAS, WiFi, and security and surveillance systems, access controls, building systems, digital signage and Internet of Things sensors. Artificial intelligence has become another key component of this infrastructure, connecting all these systems. 

“Connected digital infrastructure should be considered the fourth utility,” said Barry Goldstein, CEO of Tillman Digital Cities. “It is no different than water, electricity and plumbing. It's essential. It allows all the information to move around the building seamlessly.” 

TDC works with building owners to assess their connected digital infrastructure and recommends strategies unique to each building. It designs, builds, deploys, operates and supports connected digital infrastructure that works best for each unique venue, from office to residential to mixed-use real estate. The firm is also able to fund and upgrade connected digital infrastructure by reducing the burden of capital expenditures with its managed service.

Goldstein spoke with Bisnow about the growing importance of connected digital infrastructure and why building owners should prioritize working with firms like TDC to create strong, connected and secure networks within their properties. 

Impactful connected digital infrastructure depends on converged networks inside a building. Many modern buildings are filled with disconnected systems, from WiFi in the lobby to access controls to building systems that monitor electricity, energy and lighting. While many of those technologies run on their own individual networks, there are third-party operators that can take these disparate systems and move them to one unified technology platform.

“This allows the building to be more intelligent, efficient, secure and adaptable. It creates revenue opportunities,” Goldstein said. 

But there are also challenges. Goldstein said that until now, many of these systems were often owned and supported by different vendors, resulting in higher operational costs. Now, with the advent of converged networks, the building owner can become the conductor, and third parties like TDC can manage, support, continuously upgrade and even turn the capital expenditure into an affordable monthly cost over a 10-year contract. 

TDC understands that owners can view these costs as high, Goldstein said, but building owners need to view investments in their digital infrastructure and converged network as a long-term investment in the overall life cycle of their building. 

“The costs are real, but there are also real costs associated with not properly maintaining and upgrading your connected digital infrastructure,” Goldstein said. “There are tenant expectations when it comes to technology. They expect seamless and fast and always-available connectivity. If you don’t provide it, you will lose out. Especially as generations evolve — a dead phone is a bigger emergency than a dark room.”

There are implications for the future of a building as well. A building that is “technologically stranded” is worth less than one that is fully enabled, particularly in the era of AI, Goldstein said. 

“A building will become much more valuable if it has an AI-driven component,” he said. “It's about the ability for all these systems to be able to learn, coordinate and act in real time, and in order to do that, building owners need to consider a converged network.” 

The value in these AI-driven systems is in their ability to continuously learn from the property, understanding occupancy peaks, traffic patterns, energy usage, lighting and even future maintenance. A building is much smarter if it can pull all that data from one converged system, Goldstein said. 

Right now, too many owners spend a significant amount of time and money trying to combine data from different networks. To truly embrace AI, they need to consider having these systems on a converged network, he said. 

TDC’s role is to make things simpler, streamlined and more cost-effective for building owners. Owners who choose TDC’s connectivity as a service model get a turnkey, fully managed solution with no upfront investment that includes maintenance, monitoring, repairs and life cycle upgrades. 

For new developments, TDC can be involved from the very beginning in the design phase, helping scope out a connected digital infrastructure and assisting with the capital. For existing buildings that may have what Goldstein referred to as “technical debt” — technology that is 10 or 15 years old or more — TDC can help rebuild their connected digital infrastructure to work as effectively as new properties, he said. 

“It’s hard to predict what technology we will have in the future, but the reality is that the only constant is change,” Goldstein said. “Technical debt is real, and owners need to think about an investment in their connected digital infrastructure as an investment in the future of their property.” 

This article was produced in collaboration between Studio B and Tillman Digital Cities. Bisnow’s editorial staff was not involved in its creation.

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