Andrew Schlidt authored "Smart buildings: Who is fiddling with your roof?" (IBMadison.com)

Attention commercial building owners: Do you have a smart building? You’ve heard of smart phones and smart cars, but are you aware that advances in technology are turning inanimate objects, including buildings, into highly intelligent creators of revenue?

Smart buildings use advances in technology to create both cost savings and new revenue streams for the building owner. One need look no further than mobile telecommunications for a good example. Tall buildings provide perfect locations for mobile antenna sites and equipment shelters. The roof space is leased by mobile service providers under long-term, triple-net leases. This creates a steady, long-term stream of revenue for the owner.

If your building is at a height disadvantage, don’t worry. There are still opportunities to cash in. Many multitenant commercial buildings house tenants with high-speed data needs, who require high-speed fiber optic networks to support their businesses. Increasingly, fiber vendors are willing to pay for access rights to place fiber in the riser spaces in buildings. Similarly, telecom providers are willing to pay to lease space in the basement to develop network hubs and data centers that will serve customers both inside and outside of the building.

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