01 / Capability · Building Automation

Building Automation

Commercial building automation and control — HVAC, lighting, shading and metering coordinated as one layer.

HVAC, lighting and energy control for commercial towers, communities and hotels across the UAE.

Mixed-use development where mechanical and lighting services are centrally supervised

02 / The control layer

Commercial building automation is the layer that turns a project's mechanical, electrical and lighting installations into a coordinated environment — supervised centrally, operable locally, and legible to the team who runs the building every day.

Zentrum designs this layer as part of the wider project rather than a bolt-on. Controllers, head-ends, keypads and interfaces sit where the building actually needs them, connected on a network planned to carry them.

Part of Building Automation.

03 / System layers

How control is structured.

Panel and head-end locations, control cabling containment, keypad and thermostat positions, sensor coverage and HVAC/lighting interfaces are all easier and cheaper to resolve at design stage than after first fix. Bringing automation into the coordination early is what allows the control layer to disappear into the building.

  1. 01 /

    Sensors and devices

    Sensors, actuators, keypads, thermostats and metering points distributed through the spaces.

    • Climate
    • Lighting
    • Shading
    • Metering
  2. 02 /

    Controllers

    Local controllers and panels holding the logic for a room, a floor or a plant item.

  3. 03 /

    Control network

    Cabling, containment and network segments carrying control traffic reliably and separately.

  4. 04 /

    Automation layer

    Scenes, schedules, setpoints, trends and alarm logic written against how the space is actually used.

    • Scenes
    • Schedules
    • Trends
  5. 05 /

    Interfaces

    Defined interfaces to security, communication and life-safety systems, with life safety taking priority.

  6. 06 /

    People

    Residents, facilities teams and engineering staff, each given only the level of control they need.

Outcome /

One control layer instead of several unrelated systems.

The same shape of architecture serves a villa and a workplace; the interface and the exposure change.

Conceptual automation diagram: sensors and devices report to local controllers on a dedicated control network, an automation layer holds scenes, schedules and trends, defined interfaces reach other disciplines with life safety taking priority, and people operate the result at the level of control appropriate to them.

04 / Design principles

What good control behaviour looks like.

  • HVAC control

    Zone-level control of chilled water, VRF, AHU and FCU plant against occupancy and schedule.

  • Lighting and shading

    Scene-based control coordinated with the lighting design and the interior brief.

  • Central supervision

    BMS head-ends with alarms, trends, schedules and reports for the operating team.

  • Metering and energy visibility

    Sub-metering and dashboards that make consumption legible before it is optimised.

  • Integration interfaces

    Structured interfaces to security, communication, AV and safety systems where the design calls for them.

01 /

Coordination with MEP consultants and the main contractor

02 /

Phased commissioning for occupied buildings

03 /

Operator training and handover documentation

05 / Where it is used

Where this control layer is used.

Workplaces and headquarters

Offices where the systems are judged on how little attention they need day to day.

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Hotels and resorts

Guest-facing and operational systems planned together, and commissioned around opening.

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Also delivered in: Corporate offices and headquarters · Mixed-use developments · Hospitality · Retail · Development common areas.

06 / Coordination and delivery

How the package runs.

  1. 01 /Read the architectural, MEP and lighting design and understand how the building is meant to run.
  2. 02 /Plan controllers, head-end, cabling and interfaces against that intent.
  3. 03 /Configure zones, scenes, schedules and alarm logic.
  4. 04 /Commission on site with the operating team and record the as-built state.
  5. 05 /Hand over documentation the facilities team can actually maintain.
  • 01DDC controllers for AHUs, FCUs, chillers and pumps
  • 02Lighting management for common areas and tenant floors
  • 03Energy dashboards and tenant-level metering
  • 04Schedules, setpoints and after-hours overrides
Turnkey delivery →Assessment and support for existing systems →

07 / Related systems

What this connects to.

Data & IT Infrastructure
Controllers and head-ends ride the building network and cabling plant.
Electronic Security
Access and intrusion state can inform lighting and HVAC scenes where designed to do so.
Audio Visual Systems
Scenes combine sources, displays, lighting and shading on one interface.
Connected Communication
Intercom and PA can be triggered by, and trigger, building events.
Safety Systems
Life-safety signals take priority over comfort logic through dedicated interfaces.

Technology ecosystem /

Siemens logoSchneider Electric logoHoneywell logoMitsubishi logo

Next step /

Talk to us about the control layer.

Planning lighting, climate or building control for a new project?

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