In this episode of Distilled Building Tech, Jason and AK welcome Giovanni Frezza, Head of Smart Building at Molex. What starts with a tasting and history of grappa quickly evolves into a compelling discussion on the future of smart buildings, AI-driven optimization, IT/OT convergence, and the changing role of facilities management.

From physics labs in Rome to the forefront of digital infrastructure, Giovanni brings a unique, data-informed perspective to how we shape the built environment.

• Giovanni shares his love for grappa, Italy’s post-wine distilled spirit.
• AK and Jason scramble to find their best substitutes.
• Discussion of varietals, aging, and cultural context.

• Giovanni’s early career in theoretical physics and neural networks (studied under Nobel laureate Giorgio Parisi).
• Transition to semiconductors and leading Molex’s Smart Building division.

• Origin of Molex’s CoreSync platform and early collaboration with Cisco.
• Four core value drivers:
  Energy efficiency & carbon neutrality
  Predictive maintenance
  Occupant wellness & comfort
  Data-driven optimization

• LLMs help simplify complex building systems for FMs and stakeholders.
• Edge ML enables behavior modeling and real-time insights.
• Comparison to autonomous vehicles—buildings are becoming adaptive, not just automated.

• The rise of the AI-native facility manager.
• Skills shift as experienced FMs retire and systems grow more complex.
• AI as a tool—not a replacement—for human decision-making.

• Why networked power (PoE) is key to infrastructure design.
• Successful projects require early collaboration between IT, OT, HR, and real estate.
• The future is unified racks, segmented networks—like the evolution from legacy telephony to VoIP.

• Visit molexcs.com to explore the CoreSync platform.
• Connect with Giovanni Frezza on LinkedIn.

From aged spirits to adaptive systems, Giovanni reminds us that the smartest buildings are the ones designed for people, powered by data, and driven by purpose.