It is commonly believed that technology is the key differentiator between a smart and an ordinary workspace. While that is true on one level, it isn’t the whole truth. Conceptually, smartness as associated with an office has evolved from technological novelty to holistic sustainability, workplaces that not only perform but also inspire, explains Dikshu Kukreja, Managing Principal, CP Kukreja Architects. “A truly smart workplace is not simply a matter of embedding devices or automated systems; it is about creating an ecosystem that balances digital intelligence, ecological sensitivity and human well-being. Smart workplaces are as intuitive for their occupants as they are intelligent in their systems.” “Technology is not just an add-on but an integral part of a future-ready workplace that empowers people and performance, says Biju Varghese, Managing Director, Blucap Interiors. Draw some inspiration from this lineup of smart offices.Smart workplacesKukreja’s Havells 150,000-sq-ft corporate headquarters project in Noida used transparency and atrium spaces to symbolise inclusivity, while the 600,000-sq-ft Signature Towers in Gurugram pioneered early building management systems in India. An ongoing project, Technopark Phase IV (Technocity) in Thiruvananthapuram, a 390-acre development that redefines the IT campus as a “city within a city”, features an IT tower designed as a prototype for future workplaces, a structure that integrates a double-skin façade to moderate climate while maximising daylight, landscaped terraces that act as microclimatic sanctuaries and IoT-enabled building systems that ensure efficiency across energy, security and mobility.In the 25,000-sq-ft office of Valmet Flow Control India in Mumbai, a GM Desiign project, IoT devices and sensors integrated with the BMS, sourced from Siemens and Schneider Electric, enable the real-time monitoring and control of lighting, HVAC and energy consumption. The automated lighting is calibrated to occupancy and natural daylight. Sensor-driven screen and blackout blinds sourced from Philips and Somfy align with circadian cycles for employee well-being and allow zoned climate control for personalised comfort. Interactive smart boards and wireless presentation systems in meeting rooms, video conferencing with AI-driven noise cancellation for seamless hybrid collaboration and open central amphitheatre and motorised projector screens strategically placed across the office allow collaborative working. Poly, Microsoft Teams Rooms and Sony were the preferred brands in this category. A smart waste management system with IoT-enabled bins was sourced from Ecube Labs.Smart lighting systems deployed in the 30,000-sq-ft office of Biolitech India, a Blucap Interiors project, create adaptive illumination across different zones, ensuring both energy-efficiency and employee well-being. Climate control is managed through variable refrigerant flow air-conditioning, providing precision cooling and optimised energy usage. Switchable glass partitions introduce flexibility, allowing spaces to transform instantly from open to private. Visitor management tools, coupled with advanced access and security systems, streamline entry protocols while maintaining the highest standards of safety. Staff can control the smart system via an app through their phones.At Merchant 13, a 1,400-sq-ft office in Mumbai’s Worli industrial district by Studio Jaene, smartness isn’t about flashy gadgets but practical interventions. The directors’ cabin features smart glass partitions that can turn opaque at the touch of a button, striking a balance between transparency and privacy. Custom lighting features removable acrylic panels for easy maintenance and longevity.Project X, a 4,500-sq-ft (carpet area) office by Chalk Studio, features dimmable, switchable lighting that adapts to changing needs throughout the day for user comfort and energy-efficiency, all managed through intuitive controls. Motorised curtains respond to the press of a button or even with a gentle nudge on the fabric, allowing natural light and privacy to be effortlessly controlled while adding a touch of modern luxury. A biometric system based on fingerprint or face recognition secures the office while managing access to the premises.“We see sensor-driven feedback as the ‘brain’ of any smart office,” says Rhythem Bhambri, Senior Interior Designer, Chalk Studio. “Embedding occupancy, light and air-quality sensors and connecting them to a central hub or BMS allows spaces to adapt intelligently to usage and environmental conditions. The technology stack often involves DALI with Lutron/Crestron/KNX for control, Cisco/Logitech or local AV integrators for conferencing, acoustic panels and modular systems from specialist suppliers, and sensor networks from building automation providers,” adds Bhambri.The executive and social areas of the Ernst & Young (EY) office in Gurugram (Sector 44), a Studio IV Designs project, cover more than 85,000 sq ft across the ground, first and eighth floors, as well as a six-storey atrium within the 13-storey building. A cafeteria, a training room for new employees, a media room, retail kiosks, a few administrative offices and a doctor's office occupy the social area on the ground floor. Executive areas on the first floor include a 28-seater boardroom, executive dining room and lounges, alongside 15 meeting rooms of varying capacities. The eighth floor functions as the key social and learning zone, with a 220-seater cafeteria, two private dining rooms and four combinable training rooms with a pre-function area. “We sourced products from Regent Lighting (for the architectural and decorative lighting), White Teak and West Elm,” says Vandana Dhawan Saxena, Founder and Design Principal, Studio IV Designs. Finance mattersSmartening an office accounts for anywhere between 10 and 15 per cent of the project cost, say experts.In the 1,400-sq-ft smart office described by Studio Jaene, the smart features cost ₹ 12-15 lakh, roughly 10 per cent of the overall project budget.About 10-11 per cent of the overall budget of the executive and social areas of the Ernst & Young (EY) office in Gurugram was invested in technology integration with the goal of creating a smart, tech-enabled campus. Implementing smart workplace solutions in the 25,000-sq-ft office of Valmet Flow Control India cost approximately ₹ 90 lakh, which was nearly 15 per cent of the total project budget.“While the cost of smartness is important, the focus should ideally be long-term value rather than one-time cost,” explains Varghese.   Smarten up existing workplaces: It doesn’t cost a bomb, nor does it take forever! Smartening up an office is commonly thought to be a time-consuming process necessitating civil work. It needn’t be so. “Transform the workplace without tearing it apart,” says Gaurrav Mozar, Director, GM Desiign. “Smart doesn’t mean disruptive; it means adaptive.” Essentially, there’s no need to shun smartness because of a paucity of funds or concerns over work getting disrupted. “Transitioning to smart workplaces need not always be capital-intensive or disruptive,” says Dikshu Kukreja, Managing Principal, CP Kukreja Architects. “Even incremental strategies can have a profound impact.” For instance, integrating green interventions such as indoor plants, daylight access and water recycling are small but layered steps to transform the experience of work while optimising resource use. “Upgrading to linear, dimmable or automated lighting fixtures makes an immediate impact,” points out Neha Jaene, Founder & Principal Designer, Studio Jaene. “Plug-and-play smart glass or blinds for privacy and modified furniture layouts with custom pieces that maximise space are ways to enhance smartness without civil work.” Biju Varghese, Managing Director, Blucap Interiors, counts smart lighting, transitioning to VRF air-conditioning and switchable glass partitions as technologies that enable a significant leap toward smart workplace functionality without majorly disrupting ongoing operations. Technology can be layered into existing spaces without requiring major, invasive renovation by using wireless controls, retrofit occupancy sensors and motorised blinds, explains Priyanka Singh, Studio Head & Founder, Chalk Studio. “Replacing existing fixtures with smart bulbs or IoT-enabled drivers makes for a quick upgrade. Modular furniture like height-adjustable desks and mobile partitions are easily added, as are freestanding acoustic pods or wall-mounted panels. Portable audio-video carts with displays and conferencing tools can help add a movable smart dimension.” When sensors and automation are sought to be introduced, phase-wise implementation can happen with battery power or power over ethernet sensors, with Cloud-based hubs and apps for central control, adds Singh. She also suggests concealing devices within coves or cabinetry and using flexible finishes like modular glass or movable walls to ensure the changes can be reused if a more extensive renovation is taken up later. “Piloting a single meeting room with lighting automation, audio-video aids and smart furniture, to be refined and gradually scaled across the workspace after taking feedback, can help minimise the disruption associated with smartening workplace design.” App-based tools for attendance, digital access and Cloud integration can plug in smoothly, enhancing efficiency and connectivity without requiring major structural changes or downtime, proposes Vandana Dhawan Saxena, Founder and Design Principal, Studio IV Designs. “Retrofit plug-and-play IoT sensors and devices into existing infrastructure, prioritise cybersecurity and data protection, and partner with reputed manufacturers for reliable solutions,” further suggests Mozar. “Cloud-based building management systems that integrate seamlessly with existing hardware avoid heavy upfront investments while enabling real-time monitoring and control.” Now doesn’t that sound smart? Top components to convert an ordinary office into a smart workplace Efficient lighting systems Flexible privacy solutions Variable refrigerant flow technology in HVAC IoT and sensors integration for responsiveness to climate and context Flexible and collaborative spaces Integrated storage and concealed services Employee-centric design Strong audio-video integration Digital entry and exit tracking with access-controlled areas. Train people to use smart offices Smart features are only effective when people use them well, cautions Gaurrav Mozar, Director, GM Desiign. “Training sessions, intuitive user guides and feedback loops can further their smooth adoption and continuous improvement.” Proposed quotes: Technology is an integral part of a future-ready workplace that empowers people and performance. - Biju Varghese, Managing Director, Blucap Interiors Smart workplaces are as intuitive for their occupants as they are intelligent in their systems. - Dikshu Kukreja, Managing Principal, CP Kukreja Architects Smart doesn’t mean disruptive; it means adaptive. - Gaurrav Mozar, Director, GM Desiign Technology can be layered into existing spaces by using wireless controls, retrofit occupancy sensors and motorised blinds. - Priyanka Singh, Studio Head & Founder, Chalk Studio Upgrading to linear, dimmable or automated lighting fixtures makes an immediate impact. - Neha Jaene, Founder & Principal Designer, Studio Jaene App-based tools for attendance, digital access and Cloud integration can plug in smoothly. - Vandana Dhawan Saxena, Founder and Design Principal, Studio IV Designs