AutomatedBuildings.com
The Industry’s Digital Commons, Curated for a Connected Future
For over two decades, AutomatedBuildings.com has been the essential online resource for professionals navigating the evolution of intelligent buildings. We are a curated digital commons where the global community connects to share knowledge, foster innovation, and translate technological complexity into real-world opportunity. For decades, we have been your guide through the industry’s most profound shifts. We have chronicled and facilitated our collective evolution from the early days of pneumatic and analog control, through the DDC revolution, the rise of networking and the internet, the integration of IT and OT, the migration to the cloud, and now into the transformative age of AI, machine learning, and generative AI.
Our mission remains what it has always been: to be a catalyst for connections and a curator of the conversations that move us forward. As Ken and Jane have for over five decades,
We continue to foster the relationships that transform technological complexity into escalating opportunity.
The next chapter of this story is yet to be written. We invite you to join us in shaping it.
Our Story: A 55-Year Journey of Innovation
Our founder, Ken Sinclair, began his remarkable journey in 1966. From a student Member of ASHRAE to a life Member. His career is a microcosm of the industry itself, evolving from hands-on roles to pioneering visionary concepts.
- Foundational Experience: From training at Johnson Controls to managing large buildings and serving as the Assistant Energy Analyst for the Province of Alberta, Ken gained a ground-level view of the industry’s needs and potential.
- Pioneering Spirit: In 1975, Ken and his wife Jane co-founded Sinclair Energy Services Ltd. (now SES Consulting). They were early adopters of remote work, establishing a revolutionary home office with cutting-edge technology to perform computer simulations and energy analysis.
- Groundbreaking Projects: Ken was instrumental in landmark projects, such as the University of Alberta’s 1975 campus-wide DDC system, one of the first of its kind, which deepened his expertise in complex building operations.
This deep, practical experience revealed a critical need for a platform to share knowledge and connect the industry—a vision that became AutomatedBuildings.com.
Our Mission: Connect, Educate, Transform
We exist to serve the intelligent buildings community. Our mission is threefold:
- CONNECT the global ecosystem of engineers, manufacturers, facility managers, and tech innovators.
- EDUCATE by curating and publishing high-quality articles, interviews, and insights on the latest trends, from IoT and cloud computing to AI and machine learning.
- TRANSFORM the industry by fostering conversations that turn emerging ideas into practical solutions, helping our community navigate complexity and capitalize on opportunities.
27 Years of Building Automation History
Explore the largest searchable archive in intelligent buildings. AutomatedBuildings.com has chronicled our industry’s evolution since 1998 – from early integration concepts to today’s smart building revolution.
This living history contains thousands of articles, interviews and insights from the pioneers who shaped our industry. Trace the origins of modern practices and discover how today’s innovations were born from yesterday’s breakthroughs.
Join Our Community
The conversation continues where the industry meets. We host free Industry Education Sessions at major events like the AHR Expo, tackling the most critical themes shaping our future.
Explore the site, contribute your voice, and join us in building the future of automation.
Together, we are navigating complexity and escalating opportunity.