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Honeywell is giving the Charlotte Hornets an alley-oop to boost AI and technology at its top facilities for visitors, players and workers.
The Hornets named the Charlotte-based tech and electronics manufacturing giant as its official building automation partner for the Spectrum Center arena and the Novant Health Performance Center, the organizations announced Friday.
The cost of the partnership between Honeywell and the Hornets was not disclosed.
The goal is to improve the guest experience, such as ensuring comfortable air settings. Enhanced security was among the other highlights.
As an industry, we’re seeing this transition to more dynamic buildings, because in a strange way, securing the Spectrum Center is just as hard when it’s empty as when it’s full,” said Greg Turner, Honeywell’s chief solutions engineering officer, building automation.
Leaders from the Charlotte Hornets and Honeywell talk to media outlets about a strategic partnership to use AI and other technologies to improve experiences for players and guests at the Spectrum Center and the Novant Health Performance Center. CHASE JORDAN cjordan@charlotteobserver.com
“It’s a completely different set of problems to solve,” he said, “but it’s a really big place with a whole lot of doors, and you’ve got to keep it secure all the time.”
In October, the Hornets reopened the Spectrum Center after completing renovations in two phases over the past two offseasons, with the project costing $245 million. Some of those improvements include upgrades to suites, increased seating in the arena, and expanded food and drink options.
The arena, which is owned by the city and operated by Hornets Sports & Entertainment, celebrated its 20th anniversary in October.
Here are some of the things Honeywell will be doing at Spectrum Center and the performance center.
Unifying security and powering AI
Honeywell will work to keep visitors and fans safe at both centers through a high-level security system that controls and tracks building access, combining video, alarms and mobile entry through its LenselS2 technology platform.
With its AI-powered platform, Honeywell Connected Solutions, the company will also streamline operations at the performance center. This includes energy management and metering to make adjustments to building controls based on climate conditions and occupancy levels, improving comfort for players.
The performance center is a practice and mixed-use facility that is scheduled to open in 2027. Construction for the facility began this year. It will be east of the arena, between North Caldwell and North Davidson streets.
That facility will cost more than $150 million, according to the Hornets. An orthopedic and sports medicine clinic at the site will be open to the public. Employee offices and retail space will also be in the building.
Advancing life safety and integrating systems
At the performance center, Honeywell’s fire-detection system will feature a self-testing function to help reduce operating costs and downtime. It will also ensure the system is ready in case of an emergency.
Honeywell is also integrating and managing security and building management systems to provide streamlined and centralized control at both centers. This includes making a system where workers and players can use the same credentials at both facilities.
It also involves being able to track what’s going on at any time, and adjusting air conditioning, lighting and security for different occasions and events.
Turner said working on the performance center will be like a “blank sheet of paper” since it’s a new building.
“It was a great opportunity for us,” Turner said.
More on Honeywell
Honeywell employs 97,000 people worldwide, including 1,150 in Charlotte. The company moved its global headquarters to Charlotte in 2018.
This year, Honeywell announced it would split into three companies. Honeywell’s automation business will remain headquartered in Charlotte. The aerospace business’s headquarters will be in Phoenix, while the advanced materials business, Solstice Advanced Materials, will be based in Morris Plains, N.J.
The Charlotte Hornets hosted a tour for the newly renovated Spectrum Center on Friday, Oct. 17. Honeywell is now the official building automation partners for the facility. Melissa Melvin-Rodriguez mrodriguez@charlotteobserver.com