Fast growing Birmingham civil and structural engineering consultancy CWA Ltd has been appointed to deliver a major data centre in the heart of London’s East End.
The Jewellery Quarter-based consultancy has secured the contract to carry out civil and structural engineering work on a new international Cloud and Carrier Neutral Data Centre on the site of the former Trumans Brewery in Brick Lane, Spitalfields.
The work on the £35 million project is being carried out on behalf of contractors Structure Tone. The 5,155 sq metre data centre will use 100 per cent renewable energy, and will be one of 28 data centres operated in 11 European countries. CWA has worked closely with Birmingham architects BHP, who have been instrumental in the overall master-planning and delivery of the Brick Lane site for more than seven years.
The site became a brewery as far back as 1666 when Brick Lane was a track surrounded by fields. It flourished as a Trumans brewery for the next three centuries and in the mid-19th century was the biggest brewery in the world. It closed as brewery in 1989 and is now an arts, media and creative business centre
CWA director Dave Copeland said the consultancy was pleased to be involved in such an exciting project on an historic site.
“This is a complex project, and the site is not without its challenges because of its long history as a large brewery. In addition to a large new build, the existing structures are being increased in height to accommodate data floors and new commercial office space.
“Detailed analysis of the existing structure based on desktop studies and intrusive testing proved critical in enabling the former vat storage buildings to be used. One of the biggest challenges is to ensure that a busy bar and exhibition space in the building can be kept open while the work is ongoing,” he said.
CWA Ltd – based in the Jewellery Quarter – was established in 2011 as Copeland Wedge Associates. The consultancy provides civil and structural design consultancy services to a wide range of sectors including leisure, residential, education, health, industrial, retail, infrastructure and public bodies.
Major clients include Willmott Dixon Construction and Housing, Balfour Beatty, Seven Capital, RO Developments, Prologis, IM Properties, Speller Metcalfe, Wates Construction and Bullock Construction.
The company has delivered buildings for major end-user clients including West Midlands Police, Birmingham City Council, Coventry City Council, Northamptonshire County Council, Housing 21, Midland Heart, Rooftop Housing, Orbit Homes, Chevin Homes, Wrekin Housing, University of Warwick, Aston University, Coventry Sports Foundation and Marks and Spencer.