The need has arisen for UCL Data Centre within Wolfson house to be relocated to an interim strategic data centre in the sub-basement car park of Torrington place creating Torrington Place 3 (TP3).
Time scales dictate that the relocation of all IT equipment from Wolfson House into the completed TP3 Interim Data Centre must be completed by 1.11.2016.
Key objectives are:
Design and build an Interim Data Centre in the sub-basement of 1-19 Torrington Place.
Design and build an Interim Data Centre that allows the current data centre in Wolfson House to be relocated by 1.11.2016.
The Interim Data Centre should meet the University environmental requirements outlined below and minimise life-cycle running costs.
The design should allow for flexibility and future proofing in layout, detail and plant selection.
Design within the constraints of planning with sensitivity towards the local residents.
The building at 1-19 Torrington Place has a 2 storey podium block to the front of the building with a 10 storey tower block behind the podium. Above the tower block is a smaller footprint set of plant rooms and lift motor rooms with plant located within, around and above the plant rooms.
There are 2 ramps down from Torrington Place, 1 of which is for entrance and one of which is for exit. Each ramp has podium height accommodation built over.
To the West of the building there is a further UCL building at 188 Tottenham Court Road which has retail accommodation along the shop front at ground level on Tottenham Court Road with the retailers having the benefit of access to their basements via the basement courtyard.
To the North of the building there is a residential block with gymnasium and swimming pool below. To the East of the site are Gordon Mansions, a development of luxury apartments some of which have opening windows with visibility over the rear service area of 1-19 Torrington Place.
The main areas for development (basement and sub-basement level car parks) are occupied but underutilised, a package of enabling/service diversion works will be carried out.