I managed to get over the initial shock and started looking over the answers of the employees RBC gave when it dawned on me. I guess I am just more like an ordinary Harry, uncertain of how all these smart technologies come together and transform a building and its users. As a consequence, I understand it would seem weird for me to feel this surprised but I honestly was. I know that our team is working on similar tools I saw at RBC. Believe me I’m just a simple (wo)man trying to make my way in the Smart Office universe managing 12CU’s marketing. It honestly felt like I had just spent an hour inside a chapter of my favourite science fiction story. I took some time to talk to the people working there to check off my smart-jam check-points before going back to “reality”.įlabbergasted as I was, I sat down for a coffee nearby to sort through my thoughts. For me, to see all integrated technologies work together as one vast technological eco-systemblew my mind. The building even recognises the number of people sitting in a meeting room and adjusts the room temperature accordingly. The office directs employees to the quickest elevator It adjusts the height of your desk soon as you sit down. I can only think of one word to describe this office: uber-connected. He explained that RBC built this Smart Office to enhance employee satisfaction and productivity.

Finally, I found a Facility Manager willing to sit down with me. Still, what I went inside to see was not only the interior but especially someone to talk to about the results of the project. Grand, white, spacious, glass… so much glass and people seemed, well, happy. Lessening environmental footprints ( yes, I am one of those hipsters)Īllow me to bring you along during that moment visiting RBC Waterpark place: I opened the door, and while stepping inside, I had to blink at least twice to take it all in.Saving money (can you blame me, We’re talking business after all).

I based the list on what I thought to be the ultimate trilogy of smart office technology. Before my visit, I came up with my list of smart-jam checkpoints. So, I turned to great uncle Google to find the address and visit them. Now, with smart office technologies, everything (OBVIOUSLY) sounds smart, but the question whether it is remains somewhere up in the air. I spend time visiting old friends in Ottawa Canada, and while I was there, I heard rumours about this “smartest building of them all” in Toronto. The last couple of months offered the perfect opportunity to conduct my little experiment. Why? Well, I have always been the kind of person only to take tools seriously when I have seen their positive results in practice.

I wanted to know whether being “so smart” lead to actual ROI for RBC or not. This month, we are putting smart office technologies to the test. I took a look at one of the biggest international Smart Office jams.

Toronto take that mirror down