London Central Build Blog – Week 20

Works on technical areas in the facility have begun in earnest this week, along with continued structural works such as the installation of our vast hung ceilings on both data floors.

Custom cable junction for exterior signage lighting

Custom cable junction for exterior signage lighting

Cable basket installed to create data artery for non-data floor spaces

Cable basket installed to create data artery for non-data floor spaces

This section runs over the Customer Kitchen and will supply data to over 70 locations at the front of the facility

This section runs over the Customer Kitchen and will supply data to over 70 locations at the front of the facility

Installation of further tray to create paths back to our network core

Installation of further tray to create paths back to our network core

Tray to link various arterial data paths

Basket to link various arterial data paths

One of 4x 500m Cat6a cable drums which will feed the front of the building alone

One of 4x 500m Cat6a cable drums which will feed the front of the building alone

Temporary coiling of first 5 pair runs, before splitting away from the main artery

Temporary coiling of first 5 pair runs, before splitting away from the main artery

A look at the basket as it begins to fill with Cat6a cable

A look at the basket as it begins to fill with Cat6a cable

Reception door area prepared for access control systems

Reception door area prepared for access control systems

Brushed Netwise House signage in place above main entrance

Brushed Netwise House signage in place above main entrance

With almost 2 kilometres of Cat6a cabling to supply the front house operations alone (discounting CCTV and access control, estimated at a further 2km), the scale of a data centre project comes into sharp focus. The technical spaces have been designed to be fully modular, which will limit initial cable runs on the data floors and allow for a scalable deployment of services over time.

We will keep updating our readers with progress snapshots as cable pulling reaches completion and termination begins.

London Central Build Blog – Week 19

While structural works are finalised on the ground floor, the first floor data hall is having work done on its floor this week. The bulk of the work is preparative, in anticipation of the epoxy resin finish which will be applied once ready. After this has cured, the final structural works will be completed on the first floor ready for fit out.

Brushed stand-off sign for reception entrance

Brushed stand-off sign for reception entrance

Fireproofing on the ground floor reaching completion

Fireproofing on the ground floor reaching completion

Beginning of floor filling to hide small gaps and screw holes

Beginning of floor filling to hide small gaps and screw holes

A small area with test / sample resin coat

A small area with test / sample resin coat

Progress being made with floor filling

Progress being made with floor filling

A closer look at joint and screw hole filling ahead of sanding

A closer look at joint and screw hole filling ahead of sanding

First pass sanding reduces joints and removes filler

First pass sanding reduces joints and removes filler

First pass nearing completion

First pass nearing completion

Sanding complete after second pass

Sanding complete after second pass

London Central Build Blog – Week 18

Before moving onto this weeks updates, below you will find a photograph of the new exterior signage with rear illumination. The wiring was completed early this week, meaning the sign is now fully operational.

Illuminated exterior signage

Structural works on the ground floor are now complete for this phase of the build project, apart from the ground floor man trap which is due for installation shortly. The fit out for the ground floor data hall will be picked up once the data hall on the first floor is nearing completion, as part of the facilities second phase build-out. All that remains for the ground floor technical space is a hung ceiling, decoration and flooring. The space will then have a divisional wall installed and the expansive area will become dry storage / goods-in until phase two is green lit.

Our team have also begun assembling the custom control units which will operate both primary and backup cooling systems in our off-data floor technical spaces, such as the Electrical Intake Room and Meet-Me Room.

Blank boxes ready for modifications

Blank boxes ready for modifications

Some of the initial front-face components to be fitted to the units

Some of the initial front-face components to be fitted to the units

A completed front panel with touch screen controller and master power switch

A completed front panel with touch screen controller and master power switch

A downward look at the genie lift prior to modifications

A downward look at the genie lift prior to modifications

London Central Build Blog – Week 17

While structural works continue in both data halls, another team was able to give focus to the signage on the exterior of the building this week. This has transformed the building, branding it as our own and making the facility easily identifiable from all directions.

Removal of existing signage under way

Removal of existing signage under way

New signage mounting points installed

A closer look at the mounting points

Wiring and testing the LED lighting ahead of installation

The first section built and ready for installation

Wiring on rear of stand-off lettering

First panel in place on exterior of building

First panel in place, as seen from the road

Second panel in place

Third panel in place

Fourth and fifth panels in place

A close look at the final panel installation

The completed sign ahead of internal wiring

This is another milestone week for Netwise, in that the building has now been branded with our logo, making our arrival to the area somewhat official. We have further signage being installed soon, including Netwise House lettering on the front of the building, and other supplementary signage that will help direct visitors around the estate. Expect photos of the signage lit up at night soon.

Improved access to the data halls next week should also allow for further photo-updates.

London Central Build Blog – Week 16

Structural works are on-going in both data halls this week, including fireproofing and wall extensions. This will lead into the construction of our goods lift shaft, and the installation of our hung ceilings on both levels.

Mounting of the slogan text on our newly powder coated sign back boards

First skin of fireproofing being applied to the underside of the mezzanine floor

Opening in mezzanine floor ahead of shaft assembly

There aren’t a great deal of updates to illustrate with photographs this week, as heavy structural works have meant limited access to certain areas of the building. A large portion of time is also being spent on system design, such as finalisation of the cooling systems both inside the data floors and in supplementary rooms throughout the facility.