Lab report
Group Metropolitan’s Northern team has successfully completed a bespoke laboratory fit-out project for a blue-chip client in Knutsford, delivering a highly complex and advanced data hall facility within a 30-week programme.
The client appointed ARUP and Group Metropolitan at BSRIA Stage 1, with both companies partnering to support the development of the detailed design. ARUP’s expertise in data centre design, in-house CFD analysis, 3D modelling and knowledge of modern technological advances such as on-chip and adiabatic cooling solutions, alongside GML’s own design capabilities and expertise in construction delivery, made this a perfect collaboration. The new installation provides advanced cooling facilities via 2nr 300kW adiabatic units and 100kW of direct liquid cooling (DLC) technology. This solution enables on-chip cooling for several high-density areas, supporting the operational demands of a mixed-use high-performance data environment.
Given the age of the building, the extent of the strip-out and associated works was significant. More than 40 years of ceiling and raised access floor void services, both redundant and live, including data cabling from SERs, electrical infrastructure and fibre-optic networks, had to be carefully validated. All live services were rerouted as part of a dedicated enabling works package.
