The Connected Buildings Conference has debuted at this year’s Expo, bringing architects, designers, building owners, facility managers, and IT decision-makers together to quorum on the current issues surrounding “intelligent” buildings. Attendees will learn how the latest technology can boost their margins, improve health, safety, and security, enable workplace productivity, and reduce building lifecycle costs.

Endorsed by Hanley Wood and supported by Platinum sponsor Bosch Security Systems and Bosch Communication Systems, and Gold sponsor AMX, the Connected Buildings Conference features a panel discussion on technology-minded architects moderated by Architect editor Ned Cramer and a course by Jeff Thorsteinson of the Technology Resources Company that takes a look at building management technologies.

In addition, the Conference will tour another major event at the Expo — the Intelligent Building Showcase, which explores the implications and dynamics of how IP-based services will impact integration business in the near future. “We’re trying to show people what’s possible with integration — not necessarily say that it’s going to happen tomorrow, but to say here’s a possibility of what architects and building owners might be asking our members,” says NSCA executive director Chuck Wilson.

Architects, designers, developers, system integrators, and even tenants will find a number of dedicated education stations that will explain the details of a particular service as well as offer working demonstrations where the results of integrating these products can be witnessed firsthand. “The Intelligent Buildings Showcase will be great because we’re right in the world of it,” explains NSCA president Nancy Emerson. “It’s going to give people an opportunity to touch and feel and see what that really means to them.”

The showcase will demystify what it means to build IP into a project. “We hope it will help take a little fear out of the words ‘convergence’ and ‘integration,’” concludes Patty Voss, NSCA VP of Expositions.