West Cambridge Data Centre

CPS were appointed through 3PM who are the project management team for Cambridge University on the project. The Data Centre project had been awarded to another contractor however it fast became apparent that works of this nature were not within their capabilities.

Appointment was let with CPS being principal designer for the works, managing planning, the F10 and all site health and safety requirements for the University.

Allowing CPS access to this information gave us the ability to design and provide the client exactly what was needed and offer assurance on the product being delivered was what the client team wanted.

The works entailed the design, supply, testing and commissioning of 3No adiabatic coolers working in a Duty / Assist / Standby facility providing 1.5MWatt of cooling to the Data Centre coupled with managing the expectations of the client who had previously had issues with their appointed contractor. CPS were also responsible for the builderswork in connection which consisted of a new concrete plinth, plantroom and plant screen for the new external plant deck and plantroom.

By developing trust and understanding of the systems we were able to develop trust and confidence with the users that when CPS undertook the changeovers it was at a time when the data centre knew the demand on the system and should, at any time, not function as expected we were on hand permanently to switch the systems back over. Thankfully through careful planning this did not take place and the changeovers were executed as per our programme of works.

The project had several complexities, namely that the existing system is running in tandem with the new and pre planned changeovers had to take place with the universities data teams. Not only did we have to manage the physical changeovers on a live system these all had to be planned in with the University’s data usage within their entire campus.

This was then coupled with a witnessing period of the BMS ensuring that the system functions as designed and as intended. The end result is a completed project, fully commissioned in line with the design brief provided by Hillson Moran and a very happy and reassured client. We look forward to additional works on the site which have recently been instructed as part of overall improvements to the existing Data Halls.