.png)
Data centre civil engineering design
We design the civil engineering a data centre site depends on: access for the vehicles and plant that build, run and maintain it, perimeter roads and parking, drainage and attenuation, development platforms and the corridors for ducts and utilities. We coordinate it with the architect, the M&E and structural engineers, the security designer and the contractor, and design it to stand up to independent review.
Our directors have recent experience of data centre civil design up to RIBA Stage 4, working within a wider design team.
We're happy to team up with other consultancies, such as structural engineers, where our skills complement each other, whether we're appointed directly, as a sub-consultant or as part of a joint design team.
Site access and Section 278
Access for every vehicle the site needs to operate and be maintained: staff and visitor cars, deliveries and HGVs, fuel tankers, waste collection, and low loaders and mobile cranes for plant replacement. Section 278 works designed to the local highway authority's standards.
Internal roads and pavements
We design the internal road layout and the access to and from the site, including maintenance routes around the data halls, crane hardstandings and plant areas. Pavement construction is detailed to suit the client's requirements, from conventional build-ups to permeable paving, with options for construction-stage haul roads.
Parking and staff facilities
Car and cycle parking for staff, contractors and visitors, with EV charging, accessible bays and safe pedestrian routes. External works coordinated with welfare and staff facilities, so the people who run the site can arrive, park and move around it safely.
Security coordination
External works coordinated with the security design: fence lines, gatehouses, barriers and vehicle mitigation positions, set out so that security, access and drainage work together.
Drainage and SuDS
Drainage strategies and flood risk assessments for planning. Large roofs and hardstandings attenuated to agreed discharge rates using permeable paving, tanks and swales. Adoptable sewers under Section 104 where needed.
Earthworks and platforms
Foundation levels, cut and fill balance and formation design in Civil 3D, including level differences at the site boundary.
Ducts, utilities and coordination
Utility and ducting corridors coordinated with drainage in a federated 3D model, checked for clashes before issue.
Independent review
Data centre clients often appoint an independent reviewer. We answer the comment tracker and close comments out with evidence: standard details, calculations and model extracts.