AI to reshape Australian office space requirements

Research indicates that AI will significantly impact Australian office space needs, with projections of an additional 483,000 sqm required.

According to a study by Honeywell, a substantial majority of commercial building decision makers in the US—84%—intend to escalate their use of AI over the next year to enhance security, optimise energy management, and implement predictive maintenance strategies.

The Honeywell study involved 250 US building managers and senior decision makers managing properties with over 250 occupants, encompassing various sectors, including offices, hospitals, and educational institutions. The research highlighted that AI is now a critical component in building management processes.

The study reported that 92% of the respondents face difficulties in recruiting skilled personnel, highlighting an opportunity for the industry to utilise AI for employee training, workforce augmentation, and labour upskilling to meet the evolving demands of the sector.

Honeywell's Building Automation Segment CEO, Billal Hammoud stated, "AI in buildings is a game-changer that not only helps decision makers potentially maximise operations and efficiencies, but it can also help improve security for guests, minimise energy usage for tenants and reduce costly downtime by flagging issues before they happen."

The integration of AI in building operations has progressed beyond initial trials, with a notable percentage of building managers implementing AI for various operational improvements aimed at increasing efficiency.

The research identified that nearly 60% of respondents have integrated AI to enhance maintenance and repair processes. Predictive maintenance, which is employed by 49%, is among the prevalent applications, allowing managers to address issues proactively.

Security enhancements are also significant, with over half of respondents focusing on safety measures. Common applications include behaviour anomaly monitoring (63%), occupant safety location tracking (52%), and the use of biometric systems for access control (45%).

Energy management is another area where AI is gaining traction. More than half of those surveyed (55%) are leveraging AI for comprehensive building energy management, with notable usage patterns in water monitoring (41%) and temperature regulation (40%).

Billal Hammoud added, "With basic AI functions already integrated into many commercial buildings, leaders should pivot their focus to the upskilling opportunities it presents for employees who can tap into AI to help buildings reduce carbon emissions while being more secure and operationally efficient."