Introduction
Location: Dagenham, East London
Product(s): Aquarius X-line 100 Single Bank Louvre System
Client: Clear Line Maintenance
Architect: ARC
Builder/construction: Laing O’Rourke
End user/company: NTT
Dagenham, located in East London, is known for several notable aspects including the Dagenham Idol: A prehistoric wooden figure, dating back to 2250-2100 BCE, that was discovered in the marshes of Dagenham and is one of the oldest human representations found in Europe; Beam Valley Country Park which highlights the area’s natural history and includes remnants of the area’s early agricultural landscape. Dagenham became part of a major social housing initiative In the 1920s/30s to alleviate overcrowding in central London. The Becontree estate, one of the largest public housing estates in the world, was developed during this time and substantially influenced the community’s demographics. Post-World War II, Dagenham continued to grow, attracting families and contributing to the suburban expansion of London.
The Ford Motor Company established a major car manufacturing plant there in 1931 and although car assembly ceased in 2002, the site still produces car engines and remains a symbol of Dagenham’s industrial heritage.
The 1968 sewing machinists’ strike at the Ford plant played a crucial role in advancing equal pay for women in the UK.
Overall, Dagenham’s legacy is deeply intertwined with its industrial past, social housing developments, and contributions to labour rights, making it a significant area in London’s historical and cultural landscape.
Modern Dagenham is seeing new developments in various sectors, including the construction of new data centres and efforts to revitalise the area through infrastructure projects and housing developments.
Global technology and business solutions provider, NTT Ltd. (Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation), known for its comprehensive range of services in information and communications technology (ICT) chose Dagenham for its latest data centre facility.
NTT was established in 1985 and has grown to become one of the largest telecommunications companies in the world, operating in over 80 countries. Serving a wide array of clients across various industries with tailored IT solutions including mobile and fixed-line services, internet, and data services, cybersecurity, managed services, consulting, and systems integration, the company operates one of the largest data centre platforms globally, providing colocation, cloud services, and managed hosting. The company focuses on delivering secure, scalable, and high-performance data solutions and helps businesses transform digitally, enhance operational efficiency, and innovate through technology. NTT invests substantially in research and development, driving advancements in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing, and next-generation network (NGN) technologies as well as being involved in developing smart city technologies, leveraging IoT (Internet of Things), big data, and AI to create more efficient and sustainable urban environments.
NTT was established in 1985 and has grown to become one of the largest telecommunications companies in the world, operating in over 80 countries. Serving a wide array of clients across various industries with tailored IT solutions including mobile and fixed-line services, internet, and data services, cybersecurity, managed services, consulting, and systems integration, the company operates one of the largest data centre platforms globally, providing colocation, cloud services, and managed hosting. The company focuses on delivering secure, scalable, and high-performance data solutions and helps businesses transform digitally, enhance operational efficiency, and innovate through technology.
NTT invests substantially in research and development, driving advancements in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing, and next-generation network (NGN) technologies as well as being involved in developing smart city technologies, leveraging IoT (Internet of Things), big data, and AI to create more efficient and sustainable urban environments.
Recently, NTT expanded its data centre operations with the opening of the new Dagenham facility. Designed by international multi-disciplinary architectural practice, ARC:MC and built by renowned construction experts, Laing O’Rourke, this state-of-the-art data centre is designed to meet the growing demand for digital infrastructure and is aimed at helping to support the UK’s digital economy.
Solinear has a proud reputation of successful, long-standing collaborations and loyal clients who have worked with Solinear’s award-winning team over a number of years. It was one of these enduring working relationships with an estimator, who had moved to Clear Line Maintenance, that led to Solinear being sought to become part of their supply chain. The award winning Solinear team was delighted to be approached to produce the extensive bespoke horizontal louvre system, including coordinating double louvre doors, that would envelop Phase 2 of NTT’s Dagenham data centre. Proposing an alternative screening system to one supplied by another façade provider and installed to phase 01 previously by another contractor, Solinear’s Aquarius X-line 100 single bank louvre screening was the ideal solution for the needs of the high-tech data centre.
There are many advantages of the Aquarius X-line 100 louvre system, but it was particularly suited to this project as its external structure and appearance perfectly matched that of the system installed to Phase 1. However, Solinear’s system differs in construction from the Phase 1 system as it’s manufactured from extruded aluminium as opposed to being roll formed; Extruded aluminium is known to be highly beneficial for applications requiring great strength, complex shapes, and durability and is more suited to custom and structural applications where performance is critical.
A sizeable amount of material would be produced while avoiding the need to store off-site, so, working alongside supply chain partners to time production of materials would mean that Solinear could deliver directly to site and minimize transportation/lifting and shifting of materials.
Whereas a completely “blank canvas” allows for systems to be designed, manufactured and installed to Solinear’s particular specifications and configurations, coordinating with an existing system that has been fitted by another contractor can sometimes present its own challenges…
In this case, the issue was the in-and-out alignment of the Solinear louvre system versus the existing louvre system installed by others to phase 1. Once again, however, when the team encounter an obstacle – no matter the scale – it proves how resourceful and resilient the Solinear team is.
From a design perspective the project would prove to be relatively straightforward, however, due to the substantial area to be covered and the requirement for a multi-coloured screening system, the setting out was vital to ensure a smooth install.
The sheer scale of the project resulted in 90% of the materials used for the data centre screening never seeing the inside of Solinear’s manufacturing facility, instead, the screening components were to be extruded, powder coated, cut to length and delivered directly to site in referenced crates by Solinear’s trusted supply chain partners.
Over the course of eight weeks, a team of four skilled and diligent Solinear installers would swiftly and efficiently mount the louvre blades on to ‘hidden’ vertical support mullions, providing a smooth, continuous, and unbroken appearance on the exterior of this monumental building. Aesthetics would be a key feature with bespoke elements of this project including multiple RAL colour finishes; RAL 140 80 05 – also known as ‘Willow Green’ (part of the RAL Design colour deck); RAL 6003 – a dark greyish chartreuse green colour also known as ‘Olive Green’ and RAL 6025 – also known as ‘Fern Green’ (both part of the ‘Green Hues’ category in the RAL Classic colour system).
The contrasting colours would form three strikingly distinct horizontal bands across the louvre elevations.
Data centres are renowned for generating a significant amount of heat so to help mitigate overheating and the potential disastrous consequences, it’s vital that appropriate cooling and environmental management methods are implemented, which includes ventilation louvres. Solinear’s Aquarius™ X-line 100 single bank louvre system offered the perfect solution for the requirements of the project; adaptability and effectiveness where high levels of plant screening or air volumes are required to pass through the louvre with corresponding low pressure drops.
While the data centre will be a substantial consumer of energy, adopting passive cooling methods and focusing on sustainability will help to manage and reduce its environmental impact and lower operating costs.
Alongside improving ventilation, the system will also assist in reducing noise transfer, ensuring that the facility maintains a quiet and conducive working environment for employees, while also adhering to noise regulations. Additionally, by mitigating acoustic disturbances, the louvres enhance the overall operational efficiency and sustainability of the facility, making them an indispensable component in the design and maintenance of this critical infrastructure.
From an architectural standpoint, Solinear’s bespoke Aquarius™ X-line 100 louvres – including multiple RAL colour finishes – improve the visual appeal of NTT’s data centre by providing a sleek and striking modern facade and highlights how such a substantial construction can still be designed with consideration for visual appeal. The three contrasting bands of colour create graphical divisions breaking up the monotony of the large facade, adding visual interest and making the building more engaging and attractive. In this case, it’s particularly effective for the facility’s modern and contemporary architecture, where simplicity and clean lines are key design elements .
Thes bands can also alter the perceived scale and proportions of the building which may otherwise appear overly imposing.
Such an expanse of screening can be unforgiving, highlighting even the slightest imperfection or flaw if any louvre blades are damaged, or installation isn’t seamless; the smooth, faultless appearance of the NTT Data Centre façade is testament to the skill and diligence of Solinear’s design, manufacturing and installation team.
More photos of the NTT Data Centre will be available upon completion of the project.
Read Solinear’s feature on data centres here.
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