GATE Smart Building: A Living Laboratory for Future Technologies
Designed as an experimental environment with integrated sensing, monitoring and digital modelling systems, the GATE Smart Building supports research in digital twins, smart cities, energy efficiency and environmental intelligence.
A high-tech living laboratory where architecture, sensors, data and digital models operate as one system, enabling research, experimentation and innovation in real-world conditions.
Building as Infrastructure
The GATE Smart Building operates as a core research infrastructure supporting multiple scientific domains across the Institute. Equipped with an integrated network of environmental sensors, energy monitoring systems, photovoltaic generation, battery storage, and a real-time digital twin, the building provides a controlled yet realistic environment for experimentation, model validation, system testing and data-driven analysis.
The building functions as a full-scale testbed where researchers can observe, measure and model physical processes under authentic operating conditions. Its flexible interior, modular technological flooring, and reconfigurable spaces enable the setup of temporary laboratories, pilot installations and demonstration zones. The unified building API and centralised data repository provide structured access to environmental and operational data, facilitating interdisciplinary research in computational modelling, smart cities, human comfort, energy efficiency and building automation.
Through its combination of physical, digital and environmental systems, the Smart Building extends the capabilities of GATE’s laboratory ecosystem and supports the development, integration and evaluation of new technologies within a real-world context.
At a glance
- Real-scale intelligent building used as a living laboratory
- Integrated sensor network for environmental and operational data
- 3D BIM digital twin linked to real-time measurements
- Rooftop photovoltaic installation and local battery storage
- Supports research in digital twins, energy flexibility and smart urban systems
Smart System Overview
41 indoor sensors measuring temperature, humidity and CO₂ across four floors.
Real-time monitoring of active energy, subsystem consumption and load behaviour.
50 kWp PV installation with inverter-level analytics and performance metrics.
60 kWh storage supporting flexible energy operation and local balancing.
Unified API integrating BMS, sensor data, energy systems and environmental streams.
3D BIM model linked to real-time data for simulations, forecasting, anomaly detection and energy-flexibility studies.
Integration with labs
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