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Smart Buildings' Client Awarded for Best Use of Automation

Ave Maria University awarded 2007 Realcomm Digie Award

Spicewood, Texas -- August 6, 2008 -- Smart Buildings, a provider of professional consulting and engineering services for integrated building technology, recently had a client awarded the international Realcomm 2007 Digie Award for Best Use of Automation. The Digie is awarded to those companies that are leaders in innovative technology that facilitates automation. Candidates for the award have utilized six technologies; Inexpensive Computers, Broadband, Wireless, Internet Appliances, a Standard Wide Area Network (The Internet) and Internet Based Integrated Information Systems (IBIIS). The client, Ave Maria University, completed construction of the first phase of development and opened its doors for the first classes at the permanent campus in 2007.

Smart Buildings designed and managed the implementation of all of the building systems for the campus. The integration of the system has led to significant construction and operating cost savings, as well as improved functionality. “We are at a unique place in the evolution of real estate construction,” says Bryan Mehaffey, VP of systems and engineering at Ave Maria University. “We are designing and building an IP interface into every building system across our university and are able to extend this capability into our town of Ave Maria. This is a new paradigm for the design and integration of building and communications systems and provides us the opportunity to achieve unprecedented new capabilities while drastically reducing costs.”

Smart Buildings designed a package that addressed lighting control, power management, HVAC control, data networks, voice networks, audio-visual systems, video distribution, video surveillance, access control, and facilities management. The foundations for the integration involved cabling infrastructure, network protocols, open databases and web access. “This project reflects the evolution of the building systems to an IP network, the financial advantages for building owners to integrate their systems, and the important role of the building systems in controlling energy usage and costs”, says Jim Sinopoli, Principal of Smart Buildings, “That’s what Realcomm saw in awarding its Digie Award to our client, Ave Maria University”.

About Smart Buildings: Smart Buildings is in the business of providing professional consulting and engineering services related to integrated building technology systems. Our goal is to continue to be the industry leader in customer service and satisfaction, and to be recognized within the industry as authoritative and resourceful. Our business philosophy places importance on customer service, technology expertise, innovation, and consistent growth in value. For more information about Smart Buildings, visit www.smart-buildings.com .

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