New Union Park data centre offers a digital update for Hayes

Bruceshaw has been appointed by Ark Data Centres as Project Manager and Cost Manager on its Union Park project, a new data centre campus on the Bull’s Bridge Industrial Estate in Hayes, London. With consumers, businesses and the public sector becoming increasingly reliant on the digital economy, the demand for data centres continues to grow. The project promises to use the latest sustainable technology and invest substantially in ecological improvements to deliver a scheme which responds efficiently to the needs of Hillingdon Council and its residents.

Fulfilling the sustainability goal will consist of onsite solar generation, air cooling for IT equipment, rainwater harvesting to minimize water taken from the mains, a “living” roof and walls, and electric car charging points. This will successfully reduce the environmental impact of the facility, reduce the carbon footprint, and help contribute to the government goal of a zero-carbon economy by 2030.

The main power source to the data centre will be supplied directly from National Grid via Ark’s new 150MVA substation which will be energized in summer 2021.  The data centre will then be provided with 100 percent renewable energy.

In the event of a mains power failure, gas generators will provide backup power, a cleaner alternative to diesel. The Union Park facility will be the first data centre of its size in the country to no longer depend on diesel backup generators, producing a dramatic reduction in emissions.

The Principal Team on the initiative are:

Client: Ark Data Centres

Project Manager: Bruceshaw

Cost Manager: Bruceshaw

Lead Designer: HDR | Hurley Palmer Flatt

Architect: NWA

Planning Consultant: Savills

Landscape Architect: Barry Chinn Associates