From Hong Kong to Warsaw, Leeds to Cairo, Q2 saw WiredScore stepping onto global stages, joining conversations that are shaping the future of real estate. With a growing presence in new markets and deeper engagement with developers, occupiers and policymakers, WiredScore continues to demonstrate the value of digital connectivity and smart technology across the built environment.
Whether launching new certifications, moderating industry-defining panels or connecting with top landlords and investors, our team has been at the heart of the conversations that matter most.
Here’s a look at the trends, insights and outcomes that stood out.
The industrial and logistics sector is facing a digital reckoning; once viewed as a secondary concern, technology in industrial real estate has now become mission-critical. Recent research WiredScore conducted with Analytiqa reveals the reality: 90% of businesses say their operations depend on reliable digital connectivity, and 70% have experienced costly delays due to poor infrastructure in the past year.
With uncertainty comes opportunity, and plenty of it in the case of the US. Against a backdrop of socio-political turbulence, the real estate industry has been battling continued headwinds with return to office numbers lagging expectations and restrictive monetary policies further increasing the pressure on landlords and developers.
This hostile environment has seen the majority of investors take a more risk-averse, defensive stance, looking to reduce costs where possible rather than committing capex to anything other than what is mission critical in the short term.
Ich hätte diesen Artikel in weniger als zehn Sekunden schreiben können – so schnell ist künstliche Intelligenz bei der Sprachverarbeitung. Aber hätte er sich dann nach mir angehört? Hätten Sie überhaupt angefangen, ihn zu lesen? Hat mein LLM-Kollege diesen Artikel vielleicht geschrieben und diesen ersten Absatz eingebaut, um das zu verbergen?
Auch wenn sie sich noch in einem relativ frühen Stadium befindet, ist der kometenhafte Aufstieg der Künstlichen Intelligenz (KI) im Alltag verblüffend. KI erweitert die menschlichen Fähigkeiten in Bezug auf Geschwindigkeit und Kapazität bei alltäglichen Aufgaben – und hat bereits jetzt bemerkenswerte Auswirkungen auf unser Leben im Allgemeinen und auf die Immobilienbranche im Besonderen. Allein im vergangenen Monat war ich mehrfach in Situationen, die zeigen, wie wirkungsvoll KI sein kann:
I could have written this article in fewer than 10 seconds, such is the speed of artificial intelligence for language processing. But would it have sounded like me? Would you have started reading it? Did my LLM-colleague actually write it and include this first paragraph to hide this?
While still in its relative infancy, the meteoric rise in everyday use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is quite startling. Enhancing the capabilities of human speed and capacity for everyday tasks, AI is already having a remarkable impact on our lives in general and on the real estate industry specifically. In the last month alone, there are three examples I’ve personally been part of to show just how impactful AI can be:
In recent weeks, the world was reminded of just how critical power is to the global economy. A major power outage at Heathrow Airport, one of the busiest transport hubs in the world, disrupted operations and created ripple effects across industries. While the situation at Heathrow was temporary, it was not the only power-outage story to have hit the headlines lately; Chile’s capital Santiago saw a similar situation less than a month before. Both instances have served to underscore an important reality: reliable, resilient, and sustainable power is no longer a luxury, it’s a fundamental requirement for industrial real estate.
In the realm of industrial real estate, power plays a pivotal role in shaping everything from operational efficiency to tenant satisfaction and long-term viability. Power interruptions, even brief ones, have far-reaching consequences and highlight the requirement for assets to have a seamless transition onto back-up power supply. With the global economy becoming increasingly dependent on continuous supply chains, digital systems, and advanced manufacturing, any disruption to power is a risk to productivity, profitability, and reputation.
Brent Cross Town, the £8bn mixed use park town for London being delivered in partnership between Related Argent and Barnet Council, has been awarded global WiredScore and SmartScore Neighbourhood status, confirming the town meets world-leading technology standards.
Brent Cross Town is the first place in Europe to achieve both WiredScore and SmartScore Neighbourhood certifications and keeps company with nine other projects around the world, including Water Street Tampa, Florida, New England’s Cambridge Crossing and America’s largest mixed-use private real estate development, Hudson Yards in Manhattan, developed by Related Argent’s US partner, Related Companies.
WiredScore is the only global certification body for technology in real estate. WiredScore and SmartScore ratings measure connectivity across a range of factors that include fast and reliable internet that ensures seamless communications between buildings, zones, and residential and commercial spaces; increased technological resilience and productivity; improved human and digital connections; robust data privacy and cybersecurity measures; and the quality of the technology experience for workers, residents and visitors.
Early examples of market-leading technology implementations at Brent Cross Town include:
Digital technology is at the centre of 21st-century life and has become essential to our ability to live and work efficiently, from enabling communication with people from around the world, to enhancing the energy efficiency of our buildings and integrating the latest technologies as they come forward. These certifications enable those who visit, live, work, and study in Brent Cross Town to feel confident the spaces they are using are at the forefront of technology-enabled, future-proofed experiences.
Matt Flood, Head of Commercial Development at Related Argent, says: “Providing great connections, whether physical, social or digital, is a core pillar of our vision for Brent Cross Town and fundamental to creating a net zero town in which all can flourish. Being the first place in Europe to achieve both WiredScore and SmartScore Neighbourhood certifications demonstrates that Brent Cross Town is at the cutting edge of digital connectivity and smart city technology. This is a long-term partnership, which means Brent Cross Town can stay ahead of the game and at the forefront of the rapidly changing technological landscape.”
William Newton, CEO at WiredScore, added: “WiredScore and SmartScore certifications signify technological excellence in real estate. Brent Cross Town’s achievement of both certifications is testament to Related Argent’s forward-thinking approach to regeneration. Related Argent’s accomplishment underscores their commitment to a district-level technology strategy that fosters sustainable behaviours and ensures that future residents, commercial occupiers and visitors to Brent Cross Town feel connected, safe and inspired. We take great pride in certifying communities like Brent Cross Town that are designed for people to flourish in a digital age.”
Brent Cross Town is a 15-year regeneration project which when complete will comprise 6,700 new homes, workspace for 25,000 people in a 3m sq ft business and innovation district, a new high street, leisure spaces and more than 50 acres of parks and playing fields. As construction progresses, the individual buildings at Brent Cross Town are being designed to WiredScore and SmartScore certification standards.
By partnering with WiredScore, Brent Cross Town is ensuring that the technology and digital solutions deployed directly contribute to its four pledges – to be the place in London for participation in sport and play; a net zero carbon town; to strengthen connections; and to be a town where all can flourish.
The achievement of WiredScore and SmartScore Neighbourhood status underlines the strong progress being made at Brent Cross Town. Seven buildings are now under construction, with the first residents moving into the town later this year. The first office building, 3 Copper Square, is underway and will be completed in 2026. In total, over 930 homes, including affordable, market sale, and rental homes are on-site, along with 662 student rooms in partnership with Fusion Students. The first permanent public park, Claremont Park, opened in June 2022 and Brent Cross West mainline station, which opened in December 2023, connects with St Pancras International in as little as 12 minutes. Brent Cross Town already boasts a selection of local retail and leisure offerings, and Sheffield Hallam University will open its first campus outside Sheffield at Brent Cross Town.