In this instalment of the Build Blog, we look at the closure of Phase 2 development works here at Netwise London East.
The updates here take us from June to present day, as the first new clients now prepare to move critical systems into our newly launched data hall. Data Hall 3 is the fourth and final hall to come into service in the active side of NLE, with Data Hall 4 launched ahead of Data Hall 3 (for various technical and logistical reasons), in mid-2024.
Phase 3 development works continue, as we prepare for the launch of Data Halls 5 and 6 in 2026, as part of our new expansion project. Updates on Phase 3 have slowed slightly as we turned attention to closing out Phase 2, and onlining Data Hall 3, which is now ready to receive incoming deployments.
Here are the update photos from the close-out of Phase 2:
Completing Data Hall 3
First we step back to the height of the summer, as the underfloor works are completed, ahead of cooling plant siting, followed by the commissioning of all key systems.
The under floor containment and cabling works are well underway at this stageData Hall 3 utilises the same under floor power delivery system as found in Data Hall 4, which is now approaching capacityThis view across Data Hall 3 shows the two eventual containment pod locations, on the left and right floor islands seen hereOne side of the power distribution system for energising racks can be seen here, as termination and testing works continueNeat installations are not only a visual delight, but make ongoing maintenance and testing much more straightforward – our in-house electrical team take great pride in their termination workHere we see more pleasing visual symmetry under floor, which often comes hand-in-hand with redundancy, whereby two (or more) identical systems are deployed in tandemOur under floor tray work is always a source of pride for the team here at Netwise, which is why we opt to install strategically-placed glass floor tiles once the hall is complete, to ensure this work isn’t covered and forgotten, and can be further enjoyed by our clientsSeeing newly laid and dressed cabling on expertly installed containment is always a joy for our team and clients alikeThe freshly positioned CREC system for Data Hall 3, now sat on their pre-installed downflow plinths, ahead of full commissioningAnother view of the newly landed CRECs, ready to be commissioned and tested, after some final cooling containment works in the surrounding area(s)The rear of the newly landed CRECs, as the backside containment and connections are set to begin, along with the finalisation of initial air filtrationOnce the final infills and containment tasks are complete, the primary cooling system will be ready to commission and test in full, including soak testing
After completion of the under floor works, overhead works (not shown here), and a few other ancillary actions to ready the space, we rolled in the racks and installed the containment systems for each pod.
Phase 2 works complete
Here we see Data Hall 3 completed and commissioned, with the first client systems due for deployment imminently, including expansion projects for existing customers, as well as new clients who have had space in reservation.
Data Hall 3 sits on the ground floor, next to the ground floor breach into the new extension (Phase 3), the door to which sits behind the temporary hoarding seen here – Data Hall 6 will be located just beyond this new ground floor accesswayThe completion of Data Hall 3 brings the Phase 2 deployment schedule at London East to an endThe temporary obscuring vinyls on the glass vision panels within the entrance doors have now been removed, signalling total completion of the spacePod 1 within Data Hall 3, now complete and ready to receive pre-reserved client systemsPod 2 shown as completed, which is also ready for new client deploymentsA view across from Pod 2 to Pod 1, with some of the power distribution on show in orange, along with the supplementary CRACsThe B-side ODF can be seen on the left here, which will handle all B-side connectivity distribution for client deployments within this new spaceA view down the full run of CREC units, now delivering controlled cooling to both containment pods at the highest possible levels of efficiencyAs with all other data halls within the active side of the facility, both pods each contain 28 pre-deployed rack footprints, with Pod 1 holding all of our segregated rack options (quarter and half racks)The inside view of each containment pod shows the floor grills, which will be adjusted as the hall fills, along with key monitoring systems, including temperature, humidity, pressure and particulatesThe A-side ODF sits alongside Pod 1, mirroring the B-side ODF alongside Pod 2 shown previouslyThe backside view of the cooling system post-commissioning, in a spun down state here (hence the closed intake louvres), with completed plumbing and drainage shown
We’re extremely proud to have reached full available capacity within the currently active data centre footprint at London East, following our initial build in 2020-2021 and subsequent modular deployment schedule.
We look forward to welcoming a whole host of exciting new clients into this space, and can now focus our build efforts back towards Phase 3, which will see the onlining of Data Hall 5 in 2026, along with a range of new facility amenities for clients and staff to enjoy.
Keep your eyes peeled for further Phase 3 updates soon, along with a big announcement about further expansion at London East beyond 2026.
