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Newcastle Helix become testbed for next-generation building technology
- rebeccacartwright42
- 23 hours ago
- 3 min read
Three of Newcastle Helix's landmark buildings are helping to shape the future of smart building management as part of a major European research and development project.
The Core, The Spark and the Urban Sciences Building are now entering the testing phase of Project WILSON, a Horizon Europe EU-funded initiative bringing together businesses, universities and research organisations from across Europe to develop innovative digital tools for more sustainable and efficient building management. Newcastle Helix is one of the project's large-scale pilot sites, with Broadoak Asset Management working alongside Newcastle University and European partners to test the technology in a real-world environment.
As the project reaches its halfway point, AI-enabled tools developed during the first two years of research are now being put into action across the Helix estate. The technologies are being tested in real-world conditions, helping to demonstrate how innovation can move from concept to application within an operational environment. While Project WILSON is exploring a range of technologies, the focus of the Newcastle Helix pilot is predictive maintenance, using data and artificial intelligence to help identify potential issues with building systems before they become faults or failures.
Predictive maintenance uses data and AI to monitor the performance and condition of building systems. By helping operators understand both when equipment may be developing a fault and when it is continuing to operate efficiently, maintenance can be planned more effectively. This can reduce downtime, minimise disruption for occupiers, cut unnecessary maintenance activity, improve efficiency and extend the lifespan of building assets.
Fergus Trim, Director at Broadoak Asset Management and a member of the Helix community, said:
"We have reached the half-way stage of Project Wilson and the AI enabled tools developed over the last 2 years are now being put into action in a test bed scenario across multiple buildings at Helix. These tools will help reduce waste and drive efficiencies in building asset management. Being at the forefront of this new technology is a great example of innovation in action at Newcastle Helix.”
The project reflects the collaborative ethos at the heart of Newcastle Helix, bringing together industry expertise from Broadoak, research capabilities from Newcastle University and knowledge from partners across Europe to develop solutions to real-world challenges. By providing a live environment in which emerging technologies can be tested and refined, Helix is helping to bridge the gap between research and commercial application, while strengthening the North East's reputation as a centre for innovation with impact locally, regionally and across Europe.
The benefits could extend well beyond the buildings involved in the pilot. As organisations continue to look for smarter and more sustainable ways to manage their estates, technologies such as predictive maintenance could play an increasingly important role in improving building performance, reducing environmental impact and creating new opportunities within the growing PropTech sector.
The work taking place at Helix is also helping raise the profile of the North East's innovation ecosystem on the international stage. In September, Fergus Trim and John Seager, Director at Newcastle Helix, will attend PropTech Connect Europe, one of the continents largest real estate technology events. Alongside exploring the latest developments in the sector, they will be sharing insights from the Newcastle pilot, helping showcase how collaboration at Helix is contributing to advancements in smart and sustainable building management.
