
Port of London Authority
Complete Design & Build Data Centre Project
Introduction
The Port of London Authority was established on March 31, 1909, as a self-funded public trust under the Port of London Act 1908. Its purpose is to oversee the operations of the Port of London, with jurisdiction over the Tidal section of the River Thames and its extension. Trade in the port in 2022 was 54.9 million tonnes, increasing by 6% (2021: 51.8 million tonnes). London remains the UK’s largest port by volume of goods handled.
At the beginning of 2023, PLA began a tender for the implementation of a brand new data centre to be retro-fitted within their current head office in Kent. Following the tender process, INFINITI was awarded the contract to design and build their new primary data centre. Selected for it's track record in delivering innovative design and resilient data centres, INFINITI worked with PLA to develop an energy efficient solution that would support all critical day to day services with future expansion.
❝ INFINITI not only completed the desired work within the budget and time given but, overcame the restrictions a operational head office presents ❞
Onsite PLA Manager




- Fully phased design & build package provided in the capacity of design and build contractor including project management and site supervision to CDM requirements.
- Strip out of existing space and installation of composite panels with security grade door.
- 1 hour fire rating meeting BS 476 / EN1047 standards.
- Installation of critical electrical systems within the data centre to N+1 resilience.
- Intelligent 32A vertical cabinet power distribution units (2 per cabinet for power redundancy).
- Internal and emergency lighting systems.
- Resilient full function Inrow cooling systems to achieve 91kW heat load maximum with N+1 redundancy as a minimum based on a high resilient direct expansion design (DX).
- Provision of a new 84kVA/kW Modular UPS systems.
- Supply and Installation of 23 x 42U Server Cabinets & 4 x 42U Comms Cabinets.
- Design and build of a bespoke hot aisle containment system for efficient and managed airflows.
- Supply and installation of 24 x 24way CAT6 copper cabinet patch links and 24 x 12 core (6 Duplex) OM4 Fibre with multimode cassettes.
- IG 55 inert fire suppression system with Vesda co-incidence detection to BS 5839, BS 6266, BS EN 54 and BS ISO 14520 standards.
- Supply and installation of fresh air ventilation, pressure relief and fire extraction systems.
- All in one Environmental Monitoring and Water Leak Detection System.
- Specialist guidance throughout the process.
- Follow up annual data centre maintenance with 24/7 remote monitoring service.




Challenges
Construction began in August 2023, and despite the many challenges presented by retro-fitting, delays in the supply chain, logistics and onsite management of the project, it was fully delivered and commissioned in just 12 weeks. This project was made all the more challenging as the new data centre was being built in the fully operational head office with various ongoing site works.
PLA required a company that could deliver a team they could trust to work under strict authorisation and privacy, one who would not only tick all the compliance boxes but would also be able to complete the work within the given timeframe and budget. Throughout the project, INFINITI and PLA also worked closely together and with great care to ensure there were no disruptions to day to day services and onsite office staff.
Results
INFINITI successfully completed the project to the specified requirements, while staying within the allocated budget and, most importantly, meeting all the deadlines. As a result, the client was able to smoothly transition to their new tier 3 data centre in time for the migration of their critical services. The benefits our customers experience from our tailored solutions include:
- A long-term virtualised solution to support future expansion with accommodating mission critical systems.
- Efficiency for current and future compliance – meeting all global standards including regulations now and in the future.
- A competitive solution that meets timescales and budget requirements.
- Critical systems optimised for energy efficiency and optimal performance.
- Specifications built on a deep technical understanding of our customer's requirements and objectives.
- No disruption to business day to day operations.
- A highly visible, approachable and friendly team that are contactable throughout the process.
- Follow up data centre maintenance with remote 24/7 monitoring of all critical systems.
Contact us on 01993 774444 to book an exploratory meeting or click below to fill in our contact request form:
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Award Winning Data Centre Construction
Our services have consistently received numerous awards for their innovative design, reliability, and effectiveness throughout the years. We have extensive experience in delivering fast installation solutions for both new construction projects and refurbishments in various industries.
If you are looking for a comprehensive service that covers the design and construction of data centres, carried out with maximum efficiency and strict adherence to your timelines, we are a reputable and well established organisation that you can rely on.