New Zealand’s first Facilities Integrate trade show was held at ASB Showgrounds in Auckland on 15 and 16 October, and served as an exhibition for all the latest products, services and technologies that make commercial buildings more intelligent and efficient.

The exhibition organiser, North Port Events, partnered with AGM Publishing to promote the show through its industry-leading print and digital platforms focused on the built environment. These include Progressive Building, Interior, Architecture New Zealand and ArchitectureNow.

Featured at the event were companies showcasing the latest systems and technology for a smarter, greener, and more efficient building, including the likes of energy saving technology, audio-visual products and integrated and automated CCTV, access control, and security products and systems.

Also featured were lighting solutions for public spaces, heating and air conditioning, air purification and circulation systems, ergonomic furniture, and building technologies such as automated entrance systems, generators and water metering equipment.

Of particular interest was a model building from Siemens, which demonstrated how commercial buildings could utilise solar and wind to power the facility, charge electric cars of employees and optimise energy usage; as well as an integrated automation system from iTron that connected many of a buildings functions to an iPad app – from opening gates and garage doors to heating and lighting.

A series of seminars also provided content of interest to those in the architectural industry, including a panel discussion on the importance of considering the ongoing management and operation of buildings during the design stages and a session with architect Andrew Patterson about the design of the Len Lye Museum in New Plymouth.