Case Studies 

Install a structured cabling solution that wo uld s upport telecoms, data and security requirements for each business that rents workspace throughout the 92 units. The latest communications technology from Siemens (HiPath 3800) and Cisco Catalyst switches would form the cornerstone of the net work. Consideration had to be made for linking units but more importantly providing security at all levels.

Gregory Pennington had decided to move from Marsland House in Sale to the new business park at Salford Quays. With their own internal software design team Gregory Pennington has developed bespoke software with increasing efficiencies without parallel in its market sector. Olympic Communications were contracted to design and install a cabling solution. With an installation window of three months changes to the forecast for future requirement s and therefore the size and position of the communications room caused extra pressures. Despite all this Olympic finished on time and on budget.

Install a structured cabling solution across all four floors of Lambpit Street offices that would support Gigabit Ethernet on all connections without interfering with the normal working hours of the Borough interfering with the normal working hours of the Borough offices. Upgrade the external telecoms Wrexham Borough council reception and fibre links to the Old Library (Data Centre), Guildhall and Library. To be completed for January 2005.

Design and install a network to embed ICT not just in the classroom but throughout the whole school community. Including the boarding accommodation and the Pre-Preparatory School. First phase was installed between June and September 2005. The major part of phase 1 was to install 220 points across three teaching blocks and install single mode fibre to the new communications room in the Main Building.

Thirty years ago three friends with shared love of travel off the beaten track formed a company organising trips for other people to do the same. London based Exodus travel has developed into one of the biggest players in the marketplace, specialising in what it likes to call “the different holiday”.

The single most important requirement for this project was resilience. To this end two fibre cables were run to each floor of the main building and to each satellite building; if one link were to fail, another link would take over using spanning tree. Another key feature was the use of basket in corridors below the ceilings. This was essential because of the construction of the main building but has been beneficial in that where they have wanted to add additional sockets the work has been achieved very easily and at a lower cost.

Leading retailer Oasis Stores Ltd, part of the Mosaic Fashion Group, needed to increase its office and warehouse facilities due to an increased number of lines and the recent acquisitions of Coast, Karen Miller and Whistles. A purpose designed facility was constructed close to the existing warehouse. Electron were appointed by the building services contractor C A Sothers to design and install a cabling solution capable of supporting the business’s voice and data communications requirements. An important consideration was the fact that the warehouse would contain garment storage and sorting equipment that could be susceptible to electromagnetic interference (EMC). A two part solution was adopted, with a Cat 5e UTP solution for the office areas, cabled from a main Communications Room, and a fibre based solution for the warehouse terminals and equipment, cabled from a separate cabinet situated in the warehouse.

Install a structured cabling solution that would support Frog Island. This is Shanks’ flagship development, at the centre of their operations in East London. The company is responsible for the recycling and disposal of household waste from the residents living within the ELWA area of the London Boroughs of Barking and Dagenham, Havering, Newham and Redbridge. Since Shanks won the contract with ELWA (worth £1.4 billion) they have in-vested a total of £130 million in a brand-new plant and equipment. The administration block is the site’s hub with fibre links running to each of the main processing areas.

This project was made more difficult due to the architecture of the building; a series of windows running around the entire floors hampered the installation of the cabling. A false ceiling was installed to allow all services to be routed out of sight and perimeter trunking was employed to present the RJ45 outlets and duplex fibre outlets. The project had to be phased in to allow the minimum of disruption to the client’s operations, and personnel were being relocated as works were still underway. The design of the infrastructure had to allow for the denial of access to designated areas whilst operations had to continue during all phases of the installation.

Research Machines (RM) is a major supplier of software, services and systems to UK education. RM was founded in 1973 by Mike Fischer and Mike O’Regan. As of 2006, RM had 2,137 employees, the majority based in their headquarters located on Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxfordshire.

Following a £28 million refurbishment, the Roundhouse Theatre in Camden, London has become a spectacular venue for many forms of the performance arts. The listed building was built originally as a steam engine repair shed. However, the Roundhouse became a legendary venue in the sixties and seventies, hosting concerts by The Rolling Stones as well as theatrical events. In 1983 it closed and remained empty for many years until the Roundhouse Trust was formed in 1996.

Project Brief Transport for London (TfL) is the integrated body responsible for the capital’s transport system. Its role is to implement the Mayor’s transport strategy for London and manage the transport services across the capital for which the Mayor TfL refurbished offices in London has responsibility. TfL is accountable for both the planning and delivery of transport facilities, which enable it to take a truly integrated approach to how people, goods and services move around London. The refurbished offices in central London required a communications system to support their development for the next 10 years.

The main Campus is on Kedleston Road, to the north west of Derby. There is also a university site in Buxton, which is centred on the new Devonshire Campus, a grade II* listed building. It was formally opened by Prince Charles in 2006. A new building for Arts, Design and Technology students at Markeaton Street in Derby is due to open in 2007. Health and Psychology courses are currently based at the Mickleover Campus. The university has a total of 24,000 registered students, of whom 9,000 are full-time undergraduates.

A new communications room supporting the new offices and FDR laboratory was at the heart of this installation. A 12 core fibre and 100 pair telecoms cable link the old comms room plus two new fibre runs to the hangers. Time was a resource in short supply. 24 Port High Density patch panels were used through-out with colour coding to clearly identify the FDR network. Most of the cable was laid loose in ceiling trays although in the laboratories three compartment trunking was used. The ethernet network is designed to support Win-dows applications and some bespoke software at either 100Mbps or Gigabit.