Continuing its multi-city endeavour, the 9th Smart Office India Summit 2022 held yet another successful forum in New Delhi. Instrumental in unifying experts from multiple verticals, the Summit, co-created with our presenting partner – Havells; Interior Solutions partner – Hafele, HVAC partner – Blue Star, Category partners – Knauf Ceiling Solutions and Boon Edam; Furniture partner – AFC; Infrastructure partner – Tata Projects and knowledge partners – WoD & GACS, aimed to establish a platform that addresses various modern office challenges and solutions. Conceptualised to inspire, engage, ideate and share insights on progressive office space design, the congregation was attended by experts from various fields such as architecture, design, facilities management, project management, urban planning, environmental consultants, etc.
The event commenced with an opening address by Indrajit Saoji, Director, ITP Media Group and was followed by a welcome address by Partha Karmakar, Business Head, Professional Lighting, Havells.
The keynote address of the day, delivered by Rajat Gupta, Managing Director, CBRE South Asia, shed light on the changing dynamics of workplaces in India and the ever-transforming support infrastructure. He also spoke about the post-pandemic impact on office development and how the industry has been coping and adapting to the change.
The stellar keynote address was then ensued by an invigorating panel discussion titled: Designing & Creating Next-Gen Workplaces. Moderated by Manish Motwni, CEO, RSP Build, the panel discussion expounded on the current disruptions changes and innovation in workplace real estate.
The panel speakers touched upon how place, space and speed are important aspects in balancing corporate real estate costs and executing project delivery. They also explained how technology and data can enable a mobile & distributed workforce and can also address sustainability. They shed light on how workplace design can create a resolute ecosystem that encourages engagement, collaboration, and fun from the design perspective. And in conclusion, the panel delved into what the future of workplaces holds for us and how the evolution of office buildings will impact working culture.
Taking a cue from the Summit’s key parameters, Partha Karmakar, Business Head, Professional Lighting, Havells, once again took the stage to deliver the industry address on the topic of “Evolving Lighting Solution for Next-Gen Workspaces.” His presentation help us get a glimpse into the vast and prolific portfolio developed Havells with various intelligent and efficient solutions for smart offices and the volatile requirements of employee well-being.
This was then followed by a dynamic debate between facility managers and architects that was moderated by Vistasp Bhagwager, Principal Architect, AVA. He touched upon several key points in the discussion, such as the process for creating the most efficient and effective office design for its needs.
They also spoke about several operational challenges, how the design and execution team can help clear a path for commercial space operations and how operational challenges can be addressed at the design stage itself. One of the most exciting points of the discussion was on the topic of cost challenges and budget overruns and how the same can be worked out optimally. Space management, alternative workspace strategies, and the impact of disruptive technologies were also other parameters discussed in detail.
And the final session of the day titled “The Changing Nature of Work and the Workplace” had an insightful take on the future of workplaces and their evolving role. The speakers on this panel identified the generational changes taking place in the segment and stressed on the significance of the role of facilities managers. It also provided insights into some of the most effective technologies and systems that enhance workplace productivity and efficiency.
The panel speakers brilliantly delved into various companies’ strategies to ensure future workplace transformation, sustainability, and success. They even emphasised how data plays a critical role in reinventing and revitalising your office ecosystem and how the mere collection of data alone is not enough anymore; we also need to analyse the same for critical information.
The Summit also set in motion the announcement of the first Commercial Design Awards. The Awards will be inviting nominations for over 20 categories from firms and companies across India. The jury is proposed to take place in November 2022 and the grand awards ceremony will be held in Mumbai on the 15th of December, 2022.