|

Helping McMaster University Adapt its Buildings for the Future

February 22, 2024

Helping McMaster University Adapt its Buildings for the Future
ABB Cylon® thermal management technology supporting building modernization of McMaster University

McMaster University is using technology to better control and manage its legacy thermal systems and create smarter buildings

McMaster University is using technology to better control and manage its legacy thermal systems and create smarter buildings. Carmichael Engineering Ltd., a Canadian systems integrator, worked closely with ABB Canada’s leading experts and its highly adaptable smart building platform, ABB Cylon®, to improve energy efficiency, enhance user adaptability, and leverage innovative technologies in locations across campus.

The challenge

McMaster University wanted to upgrade many of its buildings to a flexible control platform to ensure better efficiency and building management, while simplifying control of elements such as air quality, temperature, and carbon emissions. McMaster’s challenge lay in migrating legacy systems across campus, some with 1960s technology, and newly constructed digitally enabled smart buildings.

“To ensure interoperability, it was important to choose systems that can align with all environmental requirements and specificities,” explains Alvin Baldovino, Director of Engineering Operations at McMaster University.

The goal

Helping McMaster University Adapt its Buildings for the Future
ABB Cylon ® building automation field controllers on site at McMaster University

The engineering team at Carmichael, which has been providing McMaster University mechanical and building automation services over 25 years, turned to ABB’s cutting-edge HVAC building automation platform, ABB Cylon®, as it knew the platform’s flexibility was ideal for such a complex and extensive project. Robert Forest, Carmichael’s Manager of Projects and Digital Digital Controls, sums it up: “If you use your imagination and engineering skills, ABB solutions can be used well beyond their initial purpose. These solutions are highly versatile and can suit all environments, which yields innovation and significant value.”

The ABB smart building platform is so adaptable because it can deliver a user-friendly and efficient system that converges multiple technologies in multiple buildings.

The solutions

Five of the University’s facilities are now either using or developing innovative smart building solutions with ABB hardware support for such a transition. Facilities include the McMaster Museum of Art; select campus laboratories, including a lab with the high-resolution electron microscope; and the under-construction McLean Centre for Collaborative Discovery.

Preserving works of art

Transitioning to ABB controls has brought many benefits to the McMaster Museum of Art. With so many works of art inside the museum, maintaining precise air quality, humidity, and temperature levels is crucial for artwork preservation. Using ABB technology, sensors were integrated into the building automation system, and any deviation from set environmental parameters now sets off alarms. The upgraded platform also offers a more user-friendly operational environment for staff, facilitating efficient data comprehension, which translates into significant efficiency gains and plays a critical role in risk mitigation.

Helping McMaster University Adapt its Buildings for the Future
ABB Cylon® delivers scalable, front-end building automation solutions.The building automation dashboard shows the visualization of the campus facilities, equipment and technology

Microscope: Preserving precision research

McMaster University is home to one of the highest-resolution electron microscopes in the world. The microscope requires extremely tight tolerance for temperature and humidity. ABB Cylon® efficiently maintains the environment and allows users to monitor critical parameters precisely.

The McLean Centre for Collaborative Discovery, a next-level smart building in progress

The McLean Centre for Collaborative Discovery, a 10-storey facility that is currently being built on McMaster’s campus, aims to be one of the University’s most sophisticated and sustainable buildings. The building will use ABB hardware to enable all systems to communicate and gather data, thereby facilitating reporting and resulting in prompt maintenance.

The Results

Local innovation, global impact
Helping McMaster University Adapt its Buildings for the Future
ABB drives connect to the building automation system and provides energy efficient savings

With creating safer, energy-efficient, and user-friendly environments in mind, Carmichael adapted ABB’s smart building platform to create substantial outcomes for McMaster University, including:

  • Safer environments: Real-time building status information and alarms enabled timely repairs and maintenance, ensuring the safety of staff and students.
  • Energy efficiency: ABB’s cutting-edge technology, coupled with the user-friendly approach, streamlined operations, and continues to result in enhanced energy conservation and decarbonization efforts.

The modernization of legacy systems and the creation of smart buildings with ABB’s innovative solutions exemplify the transformative potential of technology in educational institutions. The collective impact will lead to a more sustainable, energy-efficient, and user-friendly global environment.

Discuss your project

For more information about ABB Canada’s smart building solutionscontact them to discuss your project.

Source

Related Story

Buildings Become Smarter, and More Sustainable, with ABB Technologies. A Canadian Focus

Advancements in smart buildings technology offer immense potential for companies and industries in terms of sustainability benefits. Smart thermostats and automatic lighting are well-known examples that can have a significant impact on energy efficiency. With buildings generating almost 30% of greenhouse gas emissions, there needs to be a more proactive approach to improving efficiency1.

Smart building technologies offer many benefits: economic, environmental, societal, ecological. Robert Palajsa, Territory manager for the smart power and smart buildings division for southern Ontario at ABB Canada, discusses ABB’s smart building technologies and how they can help businesses to be more sustainable and enjoy these benefits.

Related Articles


Latest Articles

  • Hirebotics Marks Major Milestones at IMTS 2024 

    Hirebotics Marks Major Milestones at IMTS 2024 

    October 11, 2024 By Krystie Johnston Hirebotics recently showcased their latest innovations at IMTS, including their Beacon platform which makes programming a cobot as easy as using a cell phone or tablet, and unveiled new features designed to enhance the capabilities of their Beacon-powered cobots. Empower the Metal Workers You Already Have. Many automation solutions… Read More…

  • Bossard Inc., Proving Productivity with Fastening Technology

    October 7, 2024 By Krystie Johnston Making a quality product is critical for most manufacturing applications. From delicate electronics and optics to durable automotive and rail projects to dynamic industrial applications – connections matter. Though the size and type of fastener may vary, Bossard Inc. has developed cutting-edge solutions to support them all. Bossard Inc…. Read More…


Featured Article

Revolutionizing Material Movement with Autonomous Mobile Robots

Revolutionizing Material Movement with Autonomous Mobile Robots

In today’s fast-paced manufacturing and logistics industries, the need for efficient and flexible material movement solutions has never been greater. Traditional methods like conveyor systems, forklifts, and manual pushcarts have served us well, but they come with limitations.

That’s why Omron is thrilled to announce the launch of their game-changing MD Series of Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs). Read more


Products

  • Hirebotics Marks Major Milestones at IMTS 2024 

    Hirebotics Marks Major Milestones at IMTS 2024 

    October 11, 2024 By Krystie Johnston Hirebotics recently showcased their latest innovations at IMTS, including their Beacon platform which makes programming a cobot as easy as using a cell phone or tablet, and unveiled new features designed to enhance the capabilities of their Beacon-powered cobots. Empower the Metal Workers You Already Have. Many automation solutions… Read More…

  • New Harmonic Drive HPF Series: High-Performance Hollow Shaft Gear Unit

    October 10, 2024 The new Harmonic Drive® HPF Series has quickly become a go-to choice for engineers The new Harmonic Drive® HPF Series has quickly become a go-to choice for engineers requiring high-torque solutions in compact spaces. Its precision gearing, reliability, and versatility make it ideal for robotics, automation, and other high-performance applications that require… Read More…