From Blueprint to Build-Ready Reality
Engineering precision through integration architecture and system logic (Layers 6–7)
High-Level Design sets the strategic intent — mapping how people, applications, and data will work together to shape a smarter workplace.
But intent alone doesn’t deliver functionality. The next step — Detailed Design (DD) — is where ideas become engineering. It’s the critical bridge between concept and construction, where we define the logic, interfaces, and infrastructure that make intelligence happen.
In this phase, we move into Layers 6 and 7 of the 360 Smarter Stack:
- Layer 6 – Integration Layer → Where systems, data streams, and workflows are unified.
- Layer 7 – Systems & Devices → The physical and digital technologies that execute actions and generate insight.
Together, these layers transform the Smart Office Blueprint into a tangible, interoperable ecosystem — one that’s engineered for performance, reliability, and measurable outcomes.
1️⃣ The Role of the Detailed Design Phase
Detailed Design (DD) answers the question:
How exactly will everything work, connect, and perform — technically, operationally, and spatially?
This phase provides:
- Detailed Schematics – network, cabling, and system diagrams
- Integration Logic – how data and control signals flow between platforms
- Specifications & Schedules – equipment lists, performance criteria, interface definitions
- Test & Commissioning Plans – how success will be validated
It’s here that every system, cable, and packet of data gets a place in the architecture — all defined, documented, and ready for construction or vendor handover.
2️⃣ Layer 6: Integration Layer — The Digital Glue
The Integration Layer is the operating system of the smart building, enabling collaboration between platforms that were never designed to talk to one another.
This is where data normalisation, workflow orchestration, and interoperability come together to create cohesive intelligence.
Core Components of the Integration Layer
- Middleware Platforms
Middleware (e.g., Tridium Niagara, FNT, ICONICS, or custom APIs) acts as the translator and coordinator of system communications.- Converts legacy protocols (BACnet, Modbus, KNX) into modern IP-based or MQTT streams.
- Normalises data to common formats for analytics and dashboards.
- Provides event-driven logic (e.g., “if occupancy > 80%, adjust ventilation and lighting”).
- API Gateway & Data Bus
Defines how cloud applications, IoT devices, and building systems share data securely and efficiently.- RESTful APIs for external apps (booking, analytics, CAFM).
- WebSocket/MQTT brokers for real-time telemetry.
- Message queues (Kafka, RabbitMQ) for scalability.
- Data Tagging & Ontologies
- Project Haystack or Brick Schema ensure consistent naming and metadata.
- Relationships (e.g., Room → Sensor → Zone → Building) provide context for automation and analytics.
- Workflow Automation
- Cross-system logic defines automated actions:
“If CO₂ > 1000 ppm → Increase airflow → Notify BMS → Log event in dashboard.” - Reduces human intervention, standardises behaviour, and improves response speed.
- Cross-system logic defines automated actions:
- Security & Access Control
- Integration layer defines digital trust boundaries.
- Role-based access ensures FM, IT, and workplace teams see only relevant systems and data.
Outcome:
A living digital framework where all systems communicate, respond, and adapt dynamically — the nervous system that enables real intelligence.
3️⃣ Layer 7: Systems & Devices — The Physical Intelligence Network
The next layer down — Systems & Devices — represents the execution engine of the smart workplace.
This is where connected systems deliver the functionality envisioned during design. Every sensor, switch, display, and actuator forms part of an interconnected grid that senses, controls, and learns.
Key Systems and Their Smart Roles
- Building Systems
- HVAC: Controlled via open BMS with IoT-enabled VAV boxes and demand-driven setpoints.
- Lighting: Tunable LEDs, DALI2 or PoE-driven, integrated with occupancy and daylight sensors.
- Energy Management: Smart meters and sub-circuit monitoring feeding ESG dashboards.
- AV & Collaboration Systems
- Room booking integration with occupancy triggers.
- Auto-power-on/off, adaptive lighting, and digital signage updates driven by meeting schedules.
- IoT & Sensor Networks
- Multi-sensor arrays for temperature, CO₂, humidity, noise, VOCs, and presence.
- Wireless protocols (BLE, Zigbee, LoRaWAN) where cabling is limited.
- Data fed to integration layer for analytics and control.
- Security & Access Systems
- Unified access control and visitor management.
- Smart CCTV with AI analytics for space usage and safety.
- Network & Edge Devices
- Edge controllers run local automation for latency-sensitive operations.
- Network design includes VLAN segmentation (e.g., IT, OT, AV, Guest).
4️⃣ Engineering Precision — The Logic of Integration
Smart buildings fail when systems aren’t engineered to cooperate.
Detailed Design must therefore define exactly how systems exchange data, trigger actions, and maintain synchronisation.
Integration Engineering Checklist:
- Define data flow diagrams between every platform.
- Document trigger conditions and response actions.
- Map data ownership (who controls what).
- Establish error-handling and redundancy protocols.
- Test latency and update frequency per system type.
For example:
A meeting room booking triggers occupancy mode → AV activates → HVAC zone enables → lighting adjusts → power consumption logs to the data layer.
This multi-system choreography must be codified in the design documentation — creating transparency and repeatability for delivery.
5️⃣ Digital Twin & Simulation
The most advanced projects use Digital Twins to validate Detailed Design logic before build.
By connecting BIM models with live or simulated data, teams can:
- Test control logic virtually.
- Visualise data flows and dependencies.
- Identify bottlenecks or design gaps.
- Train operators before systems go live.
Digital Twins transform the DD phase from documentation to demonstration — ensuring performance is proven, not promised.
6️⃣ Standards, Governance & Documentation
A truly game-changing Detailed Design isn’t just about technology — it’s about clarity and consistency.
Key Documentation Deliverables:
- System Schematics – network topologies, control diagrams, rack layouts.
- Integration Matrix – showing all connections, data points, and interfaces.
- Input/Output (I/O) Schedules – mapping field devices to control logic.
- Device Lists – make, model, firmware, IP addresses, MAC IDs.
- Test Plans – validation scripts for commissioning.
- Security & Data Compliance Matrix – GDPR, encryption, access control policies.
These documents form the single source of truth across contractors, consultants, and suppliers — ensuring accountability and alignment.
7️⃣ Bridging Construction & Operations
The DD phase sets up success for the Build & Test phase.
By engaging all disciplines — IT, FM, AV, mechanical, and electrical — in joint reviews, you eliminate integration risks before they appear on-site.
Consider establishing:
- Smart Readiness Review Boards
- Common Data Environments (CDEs) for real-time design coordination
- Design Freeze Milestones to lock down approved logic and equipment lists
This reduces on-site rework, accelerates commissioning, and improves long-term maintainability.
8️⃣ Why This Phase Is Game-Changing
Most “smart” projects fail not because the technology is wrong — but because integration is shallow and ownership is unclear.
The Detailed Design phase, done right, flips that script.
It defines not just the components, but the relationships that make intelligence possible.
It’s the phase where:
- A building’s nervous system is mapped.
- Its brain is programmed.
- And its DNA — data, logic, and governance — is permanently embedded.
In other words: this is where a building becomes truly smart.
Deliverables Checklist
✅ Integration Architecture Diagram
✅ Data Flow Maps (per system)
✅ Middleware Specification
✅ Detailed Equipment Lists & I/O Schedules
✅ Security & Governance Matrix
✅ Test & Commissioning Framework
✅ Digital Twin / Simulation Validation
Next in the Series
Next up: Build & Test – Making the Vision Real.
We’ll explore how to bring your designs to life, verify integration in the field, and prepare the smart environment for go-live success.
Download the Smart Office Readiness Checklist to see where your organisation stands.
Explore our Foundation and Practitioner Courses to start building capability with the 360 Smarter Stack.
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