If you’re considering the technology in your spaces or looking into creating a smart building, you may have heard of the term MSI, or Master Systems Integrator.

But like many of the terms in our industry, it is often used loosely or incorrectly. We’re on a mission to educate property professionals on the true role of an MSI and set the standard for what one should provide.

An MSI is the organisation that integrates all of the technical systems within a building, enabling all of the separate pieces to work together seamlessly. The Navigant Consulting (now Guidehouse) description of an MSI is one which we think fits us perfectly.

Part of our mission is to educate the industries we serve and lead the way in creating the guidelines of best practice for others to follow, we’ve created several pieces of content which you can download for free to understand more about the role of an MSI and how it could help you.

Resources

Typical MSI engagement activities with stars highlighting programme pinch points requiring intensive coordination effort.​

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Contrasting typical building system deployments with the convergence of core network, server and cloud components.​

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Describes building systems and their associated components used in construction and fit-out as additive layers to achieve smart and intelligent building outcomes. ​

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A scale to define key functionality of dumb, smart & intelligent buildings.​

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How we’ve always installed technology into buildings, resulting in dumb, expensive, inflexible buildings.

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Achievable but can create unnecessary technical and cost dependencies for expensive assets, particularly upon sale.

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An asset-centric approach to technology integration- experience focused and supports a hybrid approach to cloud.

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This diagram maps key Master Systems Integration activities across the RIBA stages, showing how strategic alignment, technical coordination, and service delivery are integrated throughout the entire building lifecycle.

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This illustrates when Master Systems Integration activities take place across the RIBA stages, highlighting how involvement spans design, build, and extends into long-term operation to ensure ongoing building performance and value.

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This shows the evolution from siloed building systems to integrated environments, where APIs and intermediary platforms enable seamless communication between technologies like BMS and lighting.

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We want to help you to help us educate the industries we serve on best practice when it comes to smart buildings, which is why we’ve made these resources free to use or adapt to the needs of your audience under the CC-BY-SA Creative Commons license.

By downloading these assets, you agree to be bound by the terms of the license. All we ask is that you credit us appropriately. We hope they help you and others understand more about MSIs and our role in the delivery of smart buildings. If you would like to help us develop these assets or have ideas about how to change them, we’re more than happy to chat! Just use the feedback form to get in touch.

Our Manifesto

  1. We acknowledge the breadth of personas that exist within all building ecosystems – landlords, tenants, employees, visitors, building operators and facilities managers.
  2. We define requirements first, gaining an understanding of what people need to achieve and their jobs to be done before making choices on technologies and systems.
  3. We prioritise achieving exceptional user experiences for all personas over single vendor convenience through thoughtful design, procurement, construction and building operation.
  4. We use best of breed technologies, selecting products and systems with the ability to be part of and integrate into a wider ecosystem using open protocols.
  5. We acknowledge that the use of any building as well as floors and spaces within it will change in use over time. Technology and systems should facilitate changes and on-going optimisation, being as inexpensive as possible in achieving these goals.
  6. We don’t lock people into vendor relationships and expect any vendors engaged to provide consumption-based pricing (no long-term contracts) and complete data portability.
  7. Whilst the use of cloud technologies may feature in the overall technology architecture, all data and systems control will primarily occur in and ultimately be owned by the physical building to ensure continued operation during any connectivity interruption or service outage.
  8. Data and people’s privacy are treated with respect, particularly where information is personally identifiable. ‘Opt-in’ rather than ‘default-in’ is our recommended method of engaging people. All data is fully encrypted both at rest and in transit as far as is practically possible.
  9. We perform failure mode analysis at all levels – devices, area/field, supervisory control, overall systems architecture and user interfaces, ensuring this is documented and gracefully handled where possible.
Want to see us in action?

We help our clients get the most out of their buildings and spaces.

Over the last 60 years, we’ve had the privilege of partnering with incredible clients and continue to support some of the world’s most renowned brands.

Read our case studies