Smart Building Networks
Segmented, documented building networks that carry HVAC controls, access, cameras, elevators and tenant traffic without letting any of them touch the others.
What Smart Building Networks means in practice
A smart building network is the cabling, switching, VLAN design and firewalling that lets mechanical, security and tenant systems share one physical plant while staying logically separate.
Most buildings grew their networks one contractor at a time: the BAS vendor dropped a switch in the mechanical room, the camera installer added another, and the tenant Wi-Fi rides whatever was left. The result is a flat network nobody can draw from memory. We redraw it, segment it and put it under change control.
Faults this removes
- Building automation, cameras and tenant devices sharing one flat network
- Switches in electrical and mechanical rooms with default passwords and no inventory
- No as-built drawings, so every fault starts with tracing cables by hand
- Vendors with permanent remote access into the building controls
- Single uplink to the street with no failover and no monitoring
Scope of work
- Network survey and as-built documentation of every closet, riser and uplink
- VLAN and firewall design separating BAS, access, video, tenant and office traffic
- Managed switching with port-level labelling and configuration backups
- Vendor remote access through a logged, time-limited gateway
- Dual-carrier uplink or LTE failover with automatic switchover
- Change log and quarterly configuration review
Typical platforms
- Cisco Meraki
- Ubiquiti UniFi
- Fortinet FortiGate
- Aruba
- BACnet/IP segmentation
- Cat6A and fibre risers
Security and privacy considerations
Building and property systems hold sensitive information and often control physical access. For smart building networks we apply least-privilege access, multi-factor authentication for every administrative account, logged vendor access and encrypted storage of credentials. Where personal information is involved, we align the configuration with BC PIPA and PIPEDA expectations and document the controls so you can show them to an insurer or auditor.
What it costs
Smart Building Networks is quoted as a fixed-scope project, from $2,500, or delivered inside a managed agreement at $89 to $199 per user each month. Portfolio advisory work starts from $1,500 per month and security assessments from $1,900. Building count, suite count and after-hours coverage move the price within those ranges. A 10% launch discount applies, GST is added at 5% and there is no lock-in.
The first thirty days
In the first week we gather access, documentation and contacts, then complete a survey of the properties in scope. Weeks two and three are for design and approval of any change windows. The fourth week is for implementation and testing, with a handover meeting at the end. For larger portfolios we sequence buildings in waves so the first becomes a template for the rest of smart building networks.
How Smart Building Networks is delivered
Every engagement starts with a free 30-minute call, then a survey of the buildings involved: what is installed, who maintains it, how it is networked and where it fails. We write a fixed-price scope for smart building networks listing outcomes, responsibilities, assumptions and exclusions. Work is scheduled around occupancy, with a written rollback for each change. At handover you receive drawings, credentials in a vault you control and a short runbook. Target: every device on a named VLAN, a current network drawing per building, and uplink failover tested twice a year.
When property teams ask for smart building networks
The common triggers are an outage, an incident, an acquisition, an insurance questionnaire or a tenant complaint that cannot be answered. Owners and managers in property developers and senior living operators contact us after one of these, and student housing often come to us ahead of a major project. Whatever the trigger, we begin with evidence, not assumptions.
What we report and how often
You receive a monthly summary covering incidents, changes, open risks and upcoming renewals for smart building networks, and a quarterly review with a ranked list of recommended work. Reports are written for property managers and owners, not for engineers, and include the building, the system and the date of every significant change. Target: every device on a named VLAN, a current network drawing per building, and uplink failover tested twice a year.
Working with the rest of the property technology stack
Good smart building networks depends on its neighbours: AI for Property Operations, Helpdesk for PM Teams and Data Backup for PM Firms. During scoping we identify the systems that share a network, an account or a data feed with it and confirm the dependencies. That prevents the familiar pattern where a well-run project is undone by an unrelated vendor's change the following month.
Frequently asked questions
What is included in Smart Building Networks?
Core deliverables include network survey and as-built documentation of every closet, riser and uplink, together with drawings, documentation and a handover session. Exact scope is confirmed in a written, fixed-price proposal before work begins.
Can smart building networks work alongside our existing vendors and staff?
Yes. We work with in-house maintenance teams, building-automation vendors, access-control installers and property software support. Responsibilities are documented so nothing falls between organisations.
Which tools and platforms are involved in smart building networks?
Typical platforms include Cisco Meraki, Ubiquiti UniFi, Fortinet FortiGate, Aruba, BACnet/IP segmentation and Cat6A and fibre risers. We use mainstream, supported technology that fits your existing investments, and we record every device and licence in an asset register delivered at handover.
How much does smart building networks cost?
Projects start from $2,500 and ongoing support from $89 to $199 per user per month. vCIO retainers begin at $1,500 per month and security assessments at $1,900. Building count and complexity set where a quote lands; a 10% launch discount applies and GST is extra.
How long does smart building networks take?
A single-building engagement is often finished in one to three weeks. Portfolio rollouts are phased in waves, with the first building acting as a template. Work in occupied buildings is scheduled around move-ins and month-end.