KNX-Centric Smart Office & Wellness Integration for a Private Family Foundation in Alserkal Avenue

The Client & Challenge: Beyond Brand Lock-In

The foundation required a space that could transform seamlessly between its public and private faces. By day, it needed to function as a high-security, efficient office for staff and grant meetings. By evening and weekends, it needed to convert into a private family sanctuary with wellness studios, a meditation garden, and entertainment spaces. The challenge was creating distinct, secure “modes” without physical reconfiguration. The client demanded absolute data privacy, local system control (no cloud dependency), and tangible sustainability metrics.

“This isn’t just an office retrofit,” the Director stated. “It’s about embedding our values into the walls—privacy, mindfulness, and responsibility. The technology must be invisible yet intentional.“

The Alayoubi Technologies Solution: An Engineered Backbone

We architected a dual-stack automation system using KNX as the universal backbone for all hardwired building functions, paired with a Loxone Miniserver dedicated to the nuanced wellness and ambiance logic. The systems communicate via a secure, local API, allowing for sophisticated mode switching while maintaining complete physical and network separation between office and private zones.

System Architecture & Protocol Map:

1. The Universal Backbone (KNX TP):

   • A central KNX IP Router manages all fundamental building operations across 3 floors.

   • Lighting & Shading: Over 150 DALI-2 dimmable circuits are controlled via KNX-DALI Gateways. All perimeter shading is automated with KNX sun-tracking logic to minimize heat gain and glare, directly reducing cooling load.

   • HVAC & Energy: KNX HVAC interfaces connect to the existing Carrier VRF system and ABB power meters. Real-time energy consumption is displayed on a dashboard, broken down by zone (Office, Wellness, Common).

2. The Wellness & Ambiance Engine (Loxone):

   • A dedicated Loxone Miniserver oversees the private family areas. It is programmed with circadian lighting curves that automatically adjust color temperature (2700K to 5000K) throughout the day in the meditation rooms and library.

   • Wellness Modes: Touchpanels offer one-touch selections for “Yoga” (warm light, gentle acoustic playlist, slight positive pressurization), “Focus” (cool, even light, white noise), and “Digital Detox” (which disables all non-essential outlets and Wi-Fi in selected rooms).

3. Security & Access Intelligence:

   • A multi-layer security system was implemented. ZKTeco facial recognition terminals at primary entries grant access based on time and mode. In “Private Mode,” office access is physically disabled via KNX-controlled magnetic locks.

   • A custom “Panic Mode” for the foundation’s secure document room, triggered by a hidden switch, immediately logs the event, activates recording on all internal CCTV, and sends an encrypted alert.

4. The Mode-Switching Protocol (The Core Innovation):

   • The transition between “Office Mode” and “Private Mode” is executed via a physical keyswitch and a digital countdown displayed on all touchpanels.

   • Office Mode: Activates task lighting in work areas, sets HVAC to standard office schedule, enables staff access zones, and displays operational dashboards.

   • Private Mode: Secures office wings, activates perimeter security, transforms the central atrium into an ambient art gallery with dynamic lighting, and primes the wellness suites.

Implementation & Technical Highlights

The integration of the legacy Building Management System (BMS) via a Modbus/KNX gateway was a critical achievement. This allowed our KNX system to pull data from the chillers and air handling units, creating a unified efficiency dashboard. Our team developed a custom graphic visualization showing real-time energy use versus baseline, a feature the foundation now uses in its sustainability reporting.

Another challenge was ensuring the acoustic privacy of meeting rooms. We integrated KNX with the Biamp Tesira DSP system, so activating “Conference Mode” not only dimmed lights and lowered shades but also engaged adaptive sound masking in adjacent corridors.

The Result & Client Experience

The building is now a chameleon, embodying two distinct identities with flawless transitions. The foundation has quantifiably reduced its energy consumption by 22% through automated scheduling and shading. Most importantly, the family reports a profound sense of calm and separation when using the private spaces, crediting the intentional, human-centric design of the automation.

“Alayoubi didn’t just install switches and sensors,” the Director concluded. “They gave the building a moral compass. It protects, it conserves, and it cares for its occupants. That is value beyond technology.“

Project Specifications & Equipment List

• Building Automation Backbone: KNX IP Router, MDT KNX System Components (Sensors, Binary Inputs, Actuators).

• Lighting Control: GIRA KNX-DALI Gateways (x8), Osram DALI-2 LED Drivers, ERCO tunable-white luminaires.

• Wellness & Logic Controller: Loxone Miniserver Go (for private zones), integrated via Loxone-KNX extension.

• User Interfaces: GIRA flush-mounted touch sensors (KNX) in offices; Loxone touch panels in private areas.

• Climate & Energy: KNX interfaces for Carrier VRF, ABB KNX Power Meters, Modbus/KNX Gateway for BMS integration.

• Security & Access: ZKTeco Face Recognition Terminals (KNX output), SimonsVoss digital locking, Bosch intrusion detection (integrated via IP).

• Audio-Visual: Biamp TesiraFORTÉ DSP (for conferencing), Sonos Port (for private zone streaming), Samsung Flip Pro digital whiteboards.

• Network Infrastructure: Segmented network with dedicated VLANs for KNX/IP, Corporate IT, and Guest IoT.