Cisco Atlanta – Talent and Collaboration Center
The Future is Here: Smart, Hybrid Workspaces That Go Far Beyond Productivity
Cisco, once again, shows that it is leading the evolution/revolution in smart, hybrid workspaces. Architects and Designers from CRTKL were challenged to create another Cisco hybrid office space of the future, this time in Atlanta, that improves the quality of life both at work and at home, meeting the goals Cisco upholds in all of its spaces.
As they did at their PENN1 office space in New York City, the Cisco Atlanta team turned to Mecho for high-quality, intelligent shading solutions. Mecho has been at the forefront of the commercial window shade industry for more than 50 years. Mecho invented the solar shade product category and later designed a revolutionary, automated software-control system, SolarTrac, that reduces the reliance on electrical lighting, maximizes the use of daylight and provides for a comfortable work environment. Mecho and Cisco share the vision of positively impacting both the work environment and the planet, with office space that is highly energy efficient, pleasant to work in and effective for collaboration among on-site and remote team members.
Cisco Atlanta Collaboration Center
Project Goals
Cisco, reflecting their company values, wanted to accomplish the same set of goals for their Atlanta office as they did for their New York City office. By integrating Mecho automated shading solutions, Cisco’s smart building has become easier to manage and more cost-effective to operate.
This project had four key goals in mind:
- Hybrid Workspaces: Mixed in-office and remote work to offer flexibility and support employees.
- Sustainability: Pursuit of global and environmental sustainability, interoperable building systems reducing costs optimizing building experience.
- Health and Wellness: Facilitates mental and social well-being.
- Digitizing Real Estate: Capturing and leveraging data on footprint utilization and environmental factors.
Cisco Atlanta Collaboration Center
Project Solutions
In an effort to reduce the need for human interaction and lower energy consumption, Cisco has opted to install Mecho SolarTrac, our scalable automated shading solution, which both complements and integrates seamlessly with the facility’s PoE system. Everything connected on the PoE network not only uses low voltage power but also makes formerly "dumb" devices (e.g., on or off) capable of working in conjunction with other devices (e.g., shades rise and internal lighting dims) and providing data to building owners (e.g., office A goes largely unutilized).
Cisco Atlanta’s design team chose Mecho ElectroShades with iQ3-DC motors for their SolarTrac shading system. The iQ3-DC motor provides nearly silent operation of even extremely large window shades – it also facilitates integration, system durability, plus the option to temporarily override automation to manually create an alternate environment if and when needed.
This allows Cisco and building owners to focus more on what their buildings can do FOR their occupants rather than what the occupants can do with the building.
Cisco Atlanta Collaboration Center
Project Results
The creation of this operationally-smart and functionally-hybrid work environment has created 700 jobs, allowing Cisco to make their mark in Atlanta, the city named the No. 1 tech hub by Business Facilities. With its proximity to many major colleges, like Georgia Tech, Cisco will reap the “benefits from a deep pool of the most talented and diverse engineers in the nation as well as a community of knowledge-based businesses of all sizes collaborating to develop products of the future,” as per Metro Atlanta Chamber President and CEO, Katie Kirkpatrick.
Mecho played an important role in helping Cisco achieve their project goals - let’s see how:
Hybrid Workspace
Companies are actively striving to enhance the remote work experience with advancements in internet speed, camera, and noise-cancellation technology. Alongside these efforts, Cisco has also been working to improve the in-office work experience. Through Power over Ethernet (PoE), automated devices are being integrated to communicate with each other, creating an optimal and comfortable environment for employees when they are physically present in the office. This not only increases job satisfaction, but also boosts efficiency. The success of this project offers a glimpse into the future of productive and successful hybrid work environments. These environments are designed to meet the needs of both employees and employers while also promoting sustainability.
Sustainability
Mecho is dedicated to designing and engineering products that actively reduce pollution, waste, and energy consumption. Our SolarTrac automation system plays a key role in this effort. It minimizes solar heat gain during summer and maximizes natural light in winter, aiding building designs in meeting the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED and WELL rating systems.
Additionally, Mecho offers a wide range of shade cloth collections that contribute to both indoor and outdoor sustainability initiatives. We provide Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for all our shade cloths. EPDs stand out from other product certifications due to their comprehensive product evaluation, which includes disclosing the embodied carbon – the carbon emissions associated with a product's life cycle, including manufacturing. This makes EPDs an essential tool for architects and designers committed to sustainable design choices.
Our products cater to various sustainability goals, whether they are Greenguard Gold compliant, PVC-free, Cradle to Cradle certified, or adhere to other eco-friendly standards. This diverse range of certifications demonstrates our commitment to supporting sustainability in multiple aspects.
Health and Wellness
Daylight plays an important role in regulating circadian rhythm, facilitating an increase in mood and productivity – that’s why it’s the number one requested office perk. However, window glare and solar heat gain contribute to an uncomfortable work environment. That being the case, Cisco opts for an automatically monitored and controlled environment that both maximizes and regulates daylight. Healthy and happy associates are the key to a successful company, as Cisco can attest.
Digitizing Real Estate
Mecho’s patented SolarTrac system revolutionizes office space management through its innovative use of occupancy data. For Cisco in Atlanta, it harnesses 8,000 data points to continuously monitor vital aspects such as lighting, air quality, temperature, and room occupancy. This real-time data stream allows for efficient, sustainable, and healthy office environments, all controlled by smart, automated systems.
INNOVATIVE DESIGN. TRUSTED PERFORMANCE.
What is Power over Ethernet (PoE)?
PoE technology combines Ethernet data/communications and power over a single CAT5/CAT6 network cable. It provides a low voltage infrastructure that facilitates building system sensors and equipment for a ubiquitous wiring approach throughout the building.
With increases in Cisco port capacity, which enables integration of higher power devices and better overall PoE system economics, PoE adoption is growing rapidly.
Smart building technology with PoE enables:
- Data gathering and communications between all devices
- A foundation for inter-operability across all devices
- Increased efficiency throughout the building
- More cost-effective network infrastructure
- Healthier and more productive work environments
- Lower greenhouse gas emissions
Save with PoE
Power Over Ethernet can save you 30% on Capex cost on any given project where you would otherwise have to call a licensed electrician to pull a permit just to put an outlet somewhere so you can hang a camera. Even better, because PoE runs on low voltage power (less than 56 volts) you can safely do the work yourself.
