A Bristol city centre office block has become the first in the world to achieve a new smart building standard – even though it will not be ready for occupation for nearly another two years.
CEG, the developers of the 200,000 sq ft EQ building, pictured, on Victoria Street, say it will raise the bar in terms of quality and occupant wellbeing when completed in early 2023 by harnessing the latest smart building tech. 
The London-based firm entered the striking glass building, which will house more than 2,000 workers, into the SmartScore scheme when it was launched earlier this year.
SmartScore is a global certification for smart buildings, championing cutting-edge technology in real estate.
Buildings recognised under the scheme have an exceptional user experience, drive cost efficiency, meet high standards of sustainability and are fully future proof.
EQ – formerly called Aspire – was among 70 buildings from seven countries which entered the scheme to demonstrate their commitment to enabling a more collaborative, innovative and dynamic future.
SmartScore was devised by US firm WiredScore, which had already run internationally recognised digital connectivity and smart building rating systems.
CEG worked with BuroHappold, the Bath-headquartered global consulting engineering group, and a design team that included the Bristol office of international architects Aukett Swanke, to ensure EQ will be an exceptional workspace while also at the forefront of low-energy design and sustainability.
CEG development director Nick Lee said: “Working alongside WiredScore and Buro Happold to achieve this landmark SmartScore certification is fantastic for CEG and Bristol.
“The exceptional design of EQ and the technological prowess it embraces responds to the step change in the way people are working and occupying space.
“This drive to meet our customers’ needs now, and in the future, has delivered a global benchmark in one of the UK’s most exciting cities.”
Buro Happold digital building consultant Tom Hopton added: “We are immensely proud to be the first to achieve certification under SmartScore.
“Working with forward-thinking clients like CEG means we are able to set and execute a strategy that delivers a truly smart building, it’s a building that delivers tangible value to all the project stakeholders from investors, developers, tenants, end users, and all the backstage operations that create a modern, service first, and agile workplace.
“I applaud SmartScore for setting a standard that will help our industry, our clients and end users to cut through the noise and confusion around smart buildings. The evidence submission was straightforward, the smart score team extremely helpful, and I was just delighted to hear that we had achieved the first global certification.”
