The latest research from Cushman & Wakefield and WiredScore has highlighted a clear message: smart buildings are achieving rent premiums in competitive markets. While the study focused on the impact of connectivity and smart technology on rental value, it also exposed a deeper truth - the business case for digital infrastructure is often misunderstood or lost to value engineering.
At Trustek, we believe the evidence is increasingly clear: with early planning, smart technology can be delivered at a relatively small cost to total build - as little as £0.50 to £1.20 per sq ft at RIBA Stage 1 - yet it has the potential to deliver significant long-term uplift in both rental performance and operational efficiency.
The business case for smart technology
Smart technology has historically fallen foul of cost-cutting exercises. When budgets tighten, digital infrastructure and data systems are often seen as “nice-to-haves.” However, the Cushman & Wakefield data suggests that the opposite is true.
That £0.50 to £1.20 per sq ft investment early in design can drive improved tenant experience, operational efficiency, ESG reporting capability, and ultimately, rental uplift. The findings showed a 2.3% estimated rent premium for WiredScore-certified buildings - and while this particular result wasn’t statistically significant, it reinforces a wider trend: digitally enabled buildings outperform.
The key is integration at the right stage. When technology planning begins at RIBA Stage 1, costs are manageable and coordination seamless. Retrofitting or post-handover upgrades, by contrast, introduce both complexity and unnecessary expense.
Accreditations are a blueprint - not the destination
Accreditations such as WiredScore and SmartScore provide valuable frameworks, setting out clear design principles for connectivity and digital readiness. But every building is unique - size, location, specification, and target occupier all shape what “smart” really means.
Applying the same digital strategy to a city-centre tower as you would to a regional campus simply doesn’t work. However, that does not mean technology should be disregarded just because a project might not reach “Platinum” status. Smart design is not about chasing a badge - it’s about creating long-term value through performance, transparency, and efficiency.
At Trustek, we help clients interpret these frameworks and apply them in a way that suits each building’s purpose, performance goals, and operational reality.
Beyond construction: the living, learning building
For the first time, the British Council for Offices (BCO) has included technology within the definition of what makes a 5-star building. This marks a major shift in how value is being defined - not just through finishes and amenities, but through the digital systems that optimise energy, comfort, and operations long after construction is complete.
Smart technology enables buildings to learn, adapt, and improve. It supports continual optimisation long after the construction team has moved on and tenants have moved in - identifying inefficiencies, reducing waste, and improving user experience.
This ongoing intelligence is becoming non-negotiable. Tenants now expect detailed data on energy, water, and waste for their own ESG and corporate reporting requirements. The ability to provide that insight is quickly becoming a differentiator in lease negotiations.
From accreditation to communication: what success really looks like
Our experience auditing over 5 million sq ft of real estate has shown one simple truth: every building is different. The combination of systems, platforms, and data layers varies widely - and so does their performance.
While accreditations provide a useful checklist, success lies in clear communication of what technology is present and how it benefits occupiers and operators. A score alone tells part of the story; detailed, transparent reporting enables accurate comparison between buildings, helping owners, managers, and tenants make informed decisions.
That’s why we are working toward auditing every building to the same standard - ensuring transparency, comparability, and performance consistency across the built environment.
Trustek: Setting the Benchmark for Smart Building Audits
We combines deep PropTech expertise with independent digital-building consultancy to ensure that technology investment delivers measurable returns.
- Building technology audits – We assess systems, connectivity, and readiness from early-stage design to post-occupancy.
- Strategic advisory – We help clients budget, integrate, and future-proof technology in line with RIBA stages.
- Verified Marketplace – Our supplier verification platform connects real estate leaders with trusted PropTech vendors.
Our mission is simple: to make smart building investment transparent, measurable, and scalable - and to help the industry plan for it early, rather than value-engineer it out.
Conclusion
Smart building technology isn’t a luxury; it’s fast becoming the foundation of a 5-star building. With thoughtful planning, it can be achieved at minimal cost yet deliver measurable returns through enhanced rental performance, ESG compliance, and operational excellence.
We’re helping the industry redefine value - one audit, one system, one building at a time.
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