Chicago, USA – April 2026 – JLL, a global leader in real estate services, has announced a 23% reduction in HVAC energy costs and 35% faster facility issue resolution after installing the ABB CMA120 controller panel unit at 110 North Wacker Drive—a 58-story smart office tower in downtown Chicago. The deployment, completed in Q1 2026, addressed inefficiencies in the building’s legacy building management system (BMS)—where outdated control panels couldn’t integrate with modern IoT sensors or optimize energy use, costing tenants €290,000 annually in excess electricity bills.
The Challenge: Siloed Systems and Energy Waste in Smart Buildings
Prior to adopting the ABB CMA120, 110 North Wacker Drive faced four critical operational challenges:
- Siloed HVAC and Lighting Control: Legacy panels controlled HVAC and lighting separately, with no synchronization based on occupancy. For example, conference rooms remained fully lit and cooled even when empty, wasting 18% of building energy.
- Delayed Issue Detection: Maintenance teams relied on tenant complaints to identify problems (e.g., broken thermostats, air flow issues). Average resolution time was 48 hours, leading to tenant dissatisfaction scores of 6.2/10.
- No Remote Monitoring: Technicians had to physically visit each floor to adjust settings or troubleshoot, spending 20 hours weekly on routine checks—inefficient for a 58-story tower.
- Incompatibility with IoT Sensors: The building’s new occupancy and air quality sensors couldn’t connect to legacy panels, rendering them useless for data-driven optimization.
“Tenants expect smart, efficient offices—and our old control panels were holding us back,” said Sarah Johnson, JLL’s Building Operations Manager for 110 North Wacker. “We needed a panel that could integrate IoT data, optimize energy use in real time, and let our team manage the building remotely.”
ABB CMA120: The Smart Building Controller for Integrated Operations
After testing competitors from Honeywell and Johnson Controls, JLL selected the ABB CMA120 controller panel unit for its IoT compatibility, energy optimization features, and user-friendly design:
- Integrated HVAC/Lighting Control: Syncs heating, cooling, and lighting with occupancy sensors (via Modbus TCP/IP and BACnet protocols). Automatically adjusts temperature (22–24°C) and dims lights when spaces are empty, reducing energy waste.
- Real-Time IoT Data Visualization: Displays occupancy levels, air quality (CO2, VOC), and energy use on the 7-inch touchscreen. Color-coded alerts highlight issues (e.g., “High CO2 in Conference Room 12A”) for instant visibility.
- Remote Access via Cloud: Technicians can monitor and adjust settings from ABB’s Ability™ Smart Building app, eliminating 80% of routine on-site visits. Troubleshooting is done remotely in 90% of cases.
- Scalable Integration: Supports up to 256 IoT devices per panel, easily connecting new sensors (e.g., water leak detectors, energy meters) as the building’s smart features expand.
- Energy Optimization Algorithms: Built-in logic automatically shifts HVAC usage to off-peak electricity hours (when rates are 30% lower) without sacrificing tenant comfort.
Results: Energy Savings and Tenant Satisfaction Soar
Five months post-deployment, 110 North Wacker Drive achieved transformative results:
| Metric |
Before ABB CMA120 |
After ABB CMA120 |
Improvement |
| HVAC Energy Costs |
€1.2M/Year |
€924,000/Year |
23% Reduction |
| Issue Resolution Time |
48 Hrs |
16 Hrs |
67% Faster |
| Routine Maintenance Hours |
20 Hrs/Week |
4 Hrs/Week |
80% Reduction |
| Tenant Satisfaction Score |
6.2/10 |
8.7/10 |
40% Improvement |
| Empty Space Energy Waste |
18% |
5% |
72% Reduction |
“The CMA120 has turned our building into a true smart facility,” Johnson said. “We’re saving hundreds of thousands on energy, and tenants are happier because issues get fixed fast. It’s a win-win for our bottom line and tenant experience.”
Emily Chen, ABB’s Global Product Manager for Smart Building Solutions, emphasized the CMA120’s role in sustainable real estate: “Buildings account for 40% of global energy use—smart control panels like the CMA120 are critical for reducing carbon footprints. It’s not just about saving money; it’s about building a more sustainable future.”
JLL plans to install the ABB CMA120 in 15 more North American office towers by 2027, targeting a portfolio-wide 20% reduction in building energy costs.
