An 800-year-old bridge in Lucerne sets the scene for a forward-looking conversation about buildings that think for themselves. We bring together architect-CEO Jojo Tolentino and digital twin leader Tim Goring to unpack how open BIM, Siemens Building X, and AI-driven integration move design beyond handover into real operational impact. The theme is simple and urgent: you can’t correct what you can’t measure, and the biggest sustainability gains live in day-to-day operations.
We dig into Europe’s lead on open standards, why Switzerland has become a precision hub for smart infrastructure, and how the line between hardware and software has vanished. Sensors, controllers, and cloud services now speak a common language in data, allowing portfolios to be seen through one “single pane of glass.” That visibility lets CFOs compare apples to apples across new builds and heritage assets, prioritizing investments that cut carbon, reduce cost, and improve comfort. Digital twins act as a pragmatic control room—testing strategies, automating responses, and scaling best practices from one pilot to an entire campus.
AI doesn’t replace expertise; it removes the integration slog. Instead of years of bespoke pipelines, documents and databases are pulled together quickly, turning questions into modeled outcomes. This shift empowers architects to stay involved across the lifecycle—embedding smart building solutions into as-built models, connecting to FM platforms, and closing the loop so each project informs the next. As Jojo puts it, good design is the entry level; design plus data is the advantage. And for everyday users, the benefits feel natural: healthier spaces, fewer outages, smarter utilization—progress that’s often invisible, but deeply felt.
If you’re curious how digital twins, open BIM, and AI make net zero real—faster, cheaper, and at scale—this conversation offers a clear map. Subscribe, share with a colleague who cares about sustainable operations, and leave a review with the one question you want AI to answer about your buildings.

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