Ada Infrastructure's Docklands Data Centre Campus
Ada Infrastructure first data centre in Europe, consisting of three 70MW IT multi-storey buildings, was designed from the ground up.
The construction project involved the design programme of three 70MW multi-storey data centre buildings, each with nine stories, including data halls, gantry levels and a generator hall. Additional structures on-site include a 300MVA (Mega Volt Amp) substation, security gatehouse, firewater storage, waste building, and a multi-function building for training and community use. Cundall led a multi-disciplinary engineering design, emphasising mission-critical infrastructure focusing on achieving BREEAM Excellence and an annual Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) of 1.2-1.23. The planning application has been submitted, with construction expected to commence in Q1-2 2025.
The mechanical design of the project involved the development of a water-free cooling solution that comprised of water-cooled chillers and dry air coolers. This enabled the option for liquid cooling. However, a key challenge was balancing acoustic performance and heat rejection, given the limited roof space. The team solved this by using an iterative approach to Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) and Acoustic modelling to predict how heat would operate under different conditions and subsequently, optimise the design. The findings led to the development of a canopy lid and reduced fan speed to prevent waste heat from recirculating back into the data centre once it had been expelled.
Due to the spatial limitations of the site, the electrical team faced the challenge of where to put the generators. After analysis of the structure, the team opted to place the generators on the facility’s ground floor rather than elevated on each level of the building. This led to increased complexity in coordinating the intake and exhaust air with a central exhaust shaft provided through the centre of the building. However, by placing the generators on the ground floor of the data centre, they could reduce the amount of steel and embodied carbon, further promoting the sustainability rating of the facility.
Jamie Cameron – "Ada Infrastructure’s Docklands Data Centre Campus is an exciting venture for us, and we are thrilled to be a part of it. Our team has thoroughly enjoyed working with Ada Infrastructure on their first European data centre, which has given us the opportunity to apply our expertise from the start and direct the design process from the ground up."
Jennifer Weitzel, President of Ada Infrastructure – “This new data centre development embodies our commitment to driving positive change through the use of sustainable technology and materials, a robust environmental, health and safety program, and an ongoing investment in the communities in which we work and live.”
It was wonderful to work alongside Ada Infrastructure, designing and developing their first data centre venture in Europe. Ada's technical guidance and collaborative approach have contributed significantly to getting this project underway.
