DATA CENTRE PROJECTS
Requiring a careful balance of advanced infrastructure, strategic layout and robust security, data centres present significant engineering challenges. Alongside optimal power and data connectivity, features typically include redundancies like UPS and backup generators, air or liquid cooling systems and managed airflow, and the highest levels of security and surveillance.
Core Group have helped to design and deliver some of the most advanced data centres in the UK, and have built up unparalleled expertise in this vital sector. Projects include:
Project Dart, Slough, England
This complex project involved the fit-out of a data centre in a newly constructed building. The design brief aimed to create a Tier 3 facility featuring two new data halls, as well as additional base building services for future expansion.
Core Group was employed by the client to validate the testing and commissioning of the mechanical and electrical services. This included 12 MW of standby generation, 6 MW of cooling, gas suppression systems, UPS modules, fire alarms, ventilation plants, BMS, EMS, and a PMS with 124,000 points.
The project was successfully delivered on time and within budget, earning various industry awards for its innovative design and environmental credentials. It achieved LEED Gold and BREEAM Excellent status.
LDC – EG
As an established data center, the client’s brief was to provide an additional data hall, complete with all necessary services – cooling, lighting, power, and fire alarms – to support the new facility.
In addition, a standalone packaged module was constructed and tested off-site before being assembled on-site for final testing and commissioning. This module provided 300 kW of cooling capacity for several IT aisles.
Core Group was engaged on behalf of the client to deliver commissioning and validation services for the new data hall, ensuring that the existing operational facilities were not unduly affected by the fit-out works. A full Integrated System Test (IST) of the building was also planned, coordinated, witnessed, and documented by Core Group prior to practical completion.
Infinity Two
This innovative facility comprises four new data halls constructed within an existing building.
All associated services—generators, chillers, UPS, PDUs—were installed to Tier 3 specifications. The data halls were subsequently leased to a prestigious client in the financial sector.
Core Group served as independent commissioning managers on behalf of both the client and the developer.
Our responsibilities included reporting on commissioning progress, reviewing the commissioning strategy, verifying testing and commissioning documentation, witnessing and reporting on system performance, and overseeing the IST testing.
The services installation includes:
Cold aisle containment
Adiabatic cooling
Data Hall fire suppression
15 MW of standby generation
Underground fuel storage and delivery
UPS
6 MW of cooling capacity
BMS and PMS control systems
The project was delivered on time and within budget, with minimal disruption to the client.
Union Park 1
This complex, state-of-the-art data centre delivered 24MW of IT load across six autonomous data halls.
With innovative direct air optimisers and evaporative cooling, the need for water cooling and complex heat rejection systems was eliminated, ensuring compliance with ASHRAE standards while facilitating a smooth phased handover for our client.
Initially, Core Group was appointed by the developer to validate a dedicated 66kV substation. Our role expanded to encompass the first phase of the data hall project, where we acted as commissioning agent, directly managing sub-contractors and ensuring the delivery of compliant documentation.
This development unfolded over four phases, with the successful completion of Phase 1 leading to our appointment for Phases 2 and 3.