Support for Design and Tender Development
Commercial buildings need IT infrastructure to function well and satisfy their occupants’ needs. But, creating IT infrastructure for a new building is not easy. Building specifiers should know the possible difficulties they might encounter.
Our design expertise has enabled building owners, architects and specifiers to select cost-effective IT networks and infrastructure that meet their clients’ needs, and are scalable and secure.
Some of the challenges we address when designing IT networks and infrastructure for new buildings include:
Integration with Other Building Systems
IT infrastructure must be designed to integrate seamlessly with other building systems such as electrical, mechanical, and HVAC. These systems often use different protocols and technologies, making it challenging to integrate them into a cohesive IT infrastructure. This requires close coordination between the IT team and other building professionals to ensure that IT equipment, cabling, and connectivity requirements are accounted for in the building design.
We have both the IT and building management system knowledge that can help integrate multiple technologies and systems into a cohesive IT infrastructure. We can also provide software services to ensure that the systems work seamlessly together and are proactively monitored 24/7 to make them reliable.
Cost – Value Engineering
Designing IT infrastructure for new commercial buildings can be expensive, and requires careful consideration of the cost of equipment, cabling, and installation. Balancing cost considerations with performance and scalability requirements can be a significant challenge.
At Abtec, we understand the importance of value engineering in construction projects. Our team of experts can work with building specifiers to identify ways to improve the value of a project while reducing costs. We can provide expert advice and guidance throughout the value engineering process, helping building specifiers identify cost-saving opportunities and make informed decisions about design and construction. By leveraging our expertise in IT infrastructure and construction projects, we can help building specifiers deliver high-quality projects that meet their objectives and exceed stakeholder expectations.
Security and Compliance
IT infrastructure must be designed with security in mind to protect against cyber-attacks and unauthorised access. This requires careful consideration of network security protocols, access controls, and encryption technologies. As a holder of ISO27001 and Cyber Essentials certifications our infrastructure designs have security at their heart. Our IT infrastructure designs can provide cybersecurity solutions that are designed to protect the building’s data and systems from cyber threats. We can also ensure that the IT infrastructure is designed to meet relevant regulations and standards, such as GDPR, and PCI DSS.
Capacity and Scalability
Clients and building users’ needs can change, and the IT infrastructure must be designed to accommodate current and future demands for network capacity and scalability. As technology continues to evolve rapidly, it can be challenging to predict how much bandwidth, storage, and computing power a building will require in the future.
We carefully consider the number of users, devices, and applications that will be supported by the network, as well as the need for future expansion and upgrades. We can help design IT infrastructure that can be easily expanded and upgraded as technology evolves, ensuring that the building is equipped to handle future growth and changes.
Power and Cooling Requirements
IT infrastructure generates a significant amount of heat and requires reliable power sources. Designing for power and cooling requirements requires careful consideration of the type and location of IT equipment, as well as the availability of backup power and cooling systems.
Again, our IT knowledge and experience can help quantify the specific power requirements of the project. We have a focus on providing IT infrastructure designs that consume less energy and are low cost.
Reliability and Redundancy
IT infrastructure is a critical component of any modern building, and downtime can have significant financial and operational consequences. This means that IT infrastructure must be designed with reliability and redundancy in mind, to ensure that it is always available when needed.
We can help building specifiers address this challenge by providing IT support and maintenance services that are designed to ensure the reliability and availability of the IT infrastructure. We can also design IT infrastructure with redundant systems and failover mechanisms to ensure that the building’s operations are not disrupted in the event of a system failure.
Managing the Tender Process
Finally, managing the tender process can be a significant challenge for building specifiers. The tender process involves identifying potential suppliers, evaluating their proposals, and selecting the best provider for the project. This can be a time-consuming and complex process, especially when dealing with IT infrastructure, which requires specialised expertise and knowledge.
We address this challenge by providing IT infrastructure design and implementation services that are tailored to the specific needs of the project. We can also provide expert advice and guidance throughout the tender process, helping building specifiers evaluate proposals and select the best provider for the project.
