Why WiredScore? Why Now?

As companies return to the office in a post-pandemic world, there’s been difficulty getting more employees off their couches. Office vacancy rates are at an all-time high and there’s been a reluctance by owners to develop new commercial office spaces for fear of these vacancies. One way to convince companies and their employees to get back into the office is to provide them with best-in-class technology and user experiences that can’t be equaled at home. Most companies believe in the importance of providing smart-enabled offices for their workers and many of their employees would be more likely to use an office that has these smart technologies installed, increasing marketability for lease spaces featuring high tech amenities.

MEYERS+ has been supporting our clients in consulting and designing of technology systems in buildings and utilizing internationally recognized certifications like WiredScore to help owners distinguish their buildings from others to attract prospective tenants. Statistics show that WiredScore certified buildings have lower vacancy rates, longer average leases, and greater rental growth than non-certified buildings.

What is WiredScore?

WiredScore is an organization that provides and governs building technology certification as a means of promoting and recognizing modern, digitally connected buildings. It does this by measuring the quality and resiliency of the digital infrastructure in a building, its mobile coverage, internet service offerings, and the security and safety of its supporting building infrastructure. Examples of this would be evaluating the building’s infrastructure to adapt to technologies over its lifespan; the building’s readiness to accept and support a new tenant’s technological needs; the building’s overall connectivity to service providers ensuring competitive pricing and options to the occupier. The WiredScore organization offers both WiredScore and SmartScore certifications. Where WiredScore certification measures a building’s infrastructure and internet connectivity, Smartscore certifications focus on smart building technologies, i.e. IoT (Internet of Things), access control, environmental conditions, and user experience.

WiredScore has been a differentiator for its properties and has provided owners and landlords a competitive advantage in attracting tenants. By having a WiredScore certification, it removes all doubt from potential tenants that their buildings are technologically advanced with capabilities to support present and future needs, as well as providing modern amenities expected in today’s buildings.

What M+ Can Do?

MEYERS+ is both WiredScore and SmartScore Accredited for office and residential developments in new and existing buildings. We offer technology consulting services to help clients navigate requirements and certify their buildings. Our approach includes design and focus in the following areas:

Flexibility – What is the level of adaptability in the design to accept new technologies? Are conduit pathways and quantities appropriately sized for the use of the building?
Reliability – Is the infrastructure designed to minimize future disruptions or downtime? Are secondary pathways in place?

Security – Are technology spaces secure and equipment protected from external threat, environmental conditions, or accidental events? Are the locations ideal? Are access controls present and systems in place to mitigate flood or earthquake damage?

Readiness – How many service providers are being provided in the building to promote competitive services and pricing and provide support to tenants? Has the owner begun conversations with ISPs and reviewed fiber maps of the building’s location?
Tenant Experience – Which smart or mobile services have been designed to provide seamless digital experiences to the end-user? Does the building have a tenant experience app to request maintenance, provide lease payments, or reserve amenities?
Innovation – What forward thinking ideas have been introduced on new and emerging technologies and features for buildings? During the height of the pandemic, touchless technologies became a popular trend and we were able to introduce them into our projects, i.e. access controls, occupancy tracking, and contact tracing.

Reach out to learn more and see how our services can support you and your project.

Jason Nguyen RCDD, WiredScore AP, Smartscore AP
Senior Associate
Building Technology Lead
jason@meyersplus.com
(415) 432-8153