The 21st century has been defined by the rise of digital technology and its rapid integration into all aspects of our lives. In the construction industry, it has revolutionized the way in which we design, build, and operate our buildings, streamlining processes and providing a more intuitive and customizable end product that is more adaptable to individual users and the environment. At the forefront of this digital revolution, Starlight Developments is partnering with various providers to integrate modern and innovative technologies in their buildings throughout all development projects.

“We believe in including technology within our building design and construction that offer innovation that ultimately improves the resident experience and helps reduce our carbon footprint,” explains Josh Kaufman, Vice President and Head of Construction and Development at Starlight.

Solar panels integrated onto the roof of a Starlight building, image courtesy of Starlight Developments

Within their suites, Starlight has partnered with SmartONE Solutions and 1Valet, both of which are companies that specialize in app integration with building services. Through their phone or other smart device, residents have the ability to control things like building and parking access, package delivery, suite locks and security, and temperature control, among other services. This feature was successfully integrated in Arthaus, their new purpose-built rental building in Kitchener, and is also being implemented in Sheridan Crossing, a new purpose-built rental tower under construction in Mississauga.

Image of a typical suite door with smart lock, image courtesy of Starlight Developments

Starlight has also partnered with View Inc, a supplier that specializes in Smart Windows. At their Oakhill project in Oakville, which is currently under construction, Starlight is installing View’s electrochromic windows that, when in operation, can intelligently adjust their tint to maximize daylight and views. The tint of the windows can also be controlled manually by the occupants through an app on their phone. This revolutionary smart technology greatly improves the thermal and energy performance of the building as a whole and will save on heating and cooling costs for the residents.

Given the importance of Internet connectivity in this current age of working from home, Starlight also ensures that their construction projects receive WiredScore certification. WiredScore is a global certification body that assesses the quality of a building’s digital connectivity, based on metrics that include reliability, resiliency, redundancy, speed, and connection readiness, among others. Starlight’s Arthaus project in Kitchener was the first occupied building in Canada to achieve a WiredScore Gold certification.

View of Arthaus in Kitchener, image courtesy of Starlight Developments

All of Starlight’s recently constructed and upcoming buildings also include Electric Vehicle (EV) chargers in their parking garages.Starlight believes that EV will gain prominence in the coming years and is future-proofing their EV systems to accommodate demand.

While some of this smart technology can be found in new condo buildings, what makes much of this especially unique is that Starlight’s portfolio consists entirely of rental units. “At the end of the day, you want to make sure you’re providing the best service that you can,” Kaufman explains. “We focus on designing experiences that don’t compromise on quality, and as the owners of these buildings, we have a vested interest in their longevity and resident satisfaction.”

EV charging stations at a Starlight building, image courtesy of Starlight Developments

During the construction process, Starlight also utilizes modern technology on site in order to streamline processes and to provide better quality control of the end product. Starlight has implemented OnSiteIQ, a site-monitoring technology provider where walkthroughs conducted at regular intervals are captured on camera, similar to Google StreetView, which are then digitally matched with the drawings and floor plans to create an ongoing archive of progress that can be filtered and sorted by specific spaces within the building.

Kaufman emphasized that their pursuit of technology will continue as they expand their repertoire of buildings, and that we can expect more innovations to appear in their ongoing and future projects. “As new technologies evolve, so will our buildings”, he stated. “As an industry, we have designed and built the same way for years. We have an obligation and opportunity to provide solutions that improve our building performance and resident well-being.”

Smart technology used in building systems, image courtesy of Starlight Developments

You can find out more about Starlight’s projects and their various technological aspects by checking out their respective Databases, or you can tell us what you think by checking out their associated Forum threads or by leaving a comment in the space provided below.

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Related Companies:

Land Art Design Landscape Architects Inc, LEA Consulting, MHBC Planning, Norris Fire Consulting Inc, RAW Design, Starlight Investments