The Smart Building Lifecycle, Starting with Design | Buildings of the Future Podcast

Digital Buildings - Powered by Schneider Electric

In the third episode of this series I’m joined by Tom Hopton, the leader of the Smart Buildings

control team for Buro Happold. We will discuss key topics surrounding smart building design such as

challenges in the supply chain, key trends such as healthy buildings and Net Zero carbon goals that

are influencing and accelerating intelligent design and how this may be causing the biggest shift

since the industrial revolution! Kas and Tom will also discuss the convergence of IT and OT, how we

future proof our buildings to prepare for unforeseen events and the technology that will support a

better built environment for society.

Guest:

Tom Hopton – Tom is the Global Leader for Smart Buildings & Controls with 15 years’ industry

experience. He holds Fellowship status with CIBSE for his contribution to industry, a marker of his

commitment to engineering quality, projects and clients.

Since joining Buro Happold in 2011, Tom has maintained strong links with local academic

institutions. He holds a part time teaching position and for the past 10 years has been teaching the

subject of “Building Management Systems & Technology”.

Tom also works closely with wider industry partners. For example, his work with Building Controls

Industry Association (BCIA) on various projects and joint initiatives with CIBSE. Tom is the Vice Chair

of the global CIBSE ICT and Controls Committee, which focuses on developing industry standards and

guidance around controls, ICT and technology. Tom also sits on the judging panel for BCIA’s annual

awards and is engaged with the European Commission to develop their emerging “Smart Ready

Indicator” assessment methodology.

His experience in the industry has been recognised by the Chartered Institute of Building Services

Engineering (CIBSE) when he was awarded Building Performance Engineer of the Year 2020; a true

marker of his holistic approach to building performance.

Connect with Tom: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-hopton-309a8b2a/

Host:

Kas Mohammed – Kas has been with Schneider Electric for over a decade now, taking up the role of

Vice President of Digital Energy, UK&I in March of 2020. Prior to joining Schneider he attended the

University of Derby, where he received a Bachelor of Science (BSc) in Psychology. At the start of his

Schneider career, Kas worked in sales, before becoming BEMS Product and Marketing Director. Most

recently, he worked for two years as the Midlands Regional Director.

Connect with Kas: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kas-mohammed-52aab960/

Additional Resources:

• The Schneider Electric buildings of the future webpage - The building industry is changing, don't

get left behind: https://www.se.com/uk/en/work/campaign/buildings-of-the-future/#

• How we are improving building performance with rich data technology – written by Tom

Hopton: https://www.burohappold.com/articles/how-we-are-improving-building-

performance-with-data/

About Schneider Electric:

Our mission is to be your digital partner for Sustainability and Efficiency.

We drive digital transformation by integrating world-leading process and energy technologies, end-

point to cloud connecting products, controls, software and services, across the entire lifecycle,

enabling integrated company management, for homes, buildings, data centers, infrastructure and

industries.

We are the most local of global companies. We are advocates of open standards and partnership

ecosystems that are passionate about our shared Meaningful Purpose, Inclusive and

Empowered values.

Learn more at www.se.com/uk