3. It is our experience and unique
understanding of the data center
market that has propelled ISG to the
forefront of data center design and
construction.
Our experience includes delivering directly for end-users,
as well as for hosting providers, and our comprehensive
offering spans the entire life-cycle of the data center.
With 22 years experience working alongside clients
operating in a range of sectors we understand the
ever-increasing pace of today’s business and the demands
this makes on an organisation’s IT strategy. As a result we
have developed a thorough insight into the critical areas of
concern that organisations have when making the decision
to undertake any type of data center related project.
Variables such as future business strategy, geographic
location and budget all have direct implications on data
center capacity, resilience and future flexibility.
Regardless of size, scope or complexity we approach
every project with the same care and attention and with the
objective of delivering the best solution possible.
02 | 03
We understand your
unique challenges
5. This document demonstrates our approach to
data center construction, from feasibility and design
concept through to procurement, construction and
commissioning, and ensuring the smooth integration
and ongoing performance of the facility.
• Preparation 06
• Design management 08
• Pre-construction 10
• Construction 12
• Commissioning & pre-deployment 14
• Deployment 16
• Data center upgrades 18
• About ISG 20
Setting the standard
for data center
construction
04 | 05
7. Preparation
Making the right decisions
We know that taking the wrong course of action will
inevitably result in wasted expenditure, as well as lost
business opportunities, and potential damage to an
organisation’s reputation.
Prior to making any decisions we make sure we understand
our client’s business drivers and encapsulate their current
and future needs from all areas of their organisation. Due
to years of experience working with clients that operate in
varied and fast-paced industries, ISG takes an open-minded
approach to every project and we know when to say “no”.
Transparency at every stage is vital and we ensure that all
objectives are measurable, documentable and verifiable.
Our service includes;
• An analysis of physical data to compare our client’s
existing situation to their required outcome
• An option report that exposes different routes to
achieve the required outcome, as well as how each of
these routes will impact on our client’s business and its
stakeholders
• Sustainability advice on initiatives for obtaining green
credentials for the construction of the data center as
well as energy and cost reduction during operation
• A cost analysis, not just for the construction stage, but
for the life-cycle of the facility
06 | 07
8. Design management
Visualise the outcome
With the business strategy agreed, we translate our client’s
vision into a tangible reality by producing a design that
delivers all of their goals.
Our challenge is to integrate the design and the construction
programme into a stage-by-stage plan that achieves the
highest quality outcome and represents value for money.
Our design management team includes qualified engineers,
architects and structural designers who work with our
clients to produce innovative designs that ensure efficiency,
resilience, remove complexity, and provide flexibility for
the future.
We want our clients to experience the look and feel of their
new facility as early as possible and use the most current
applications such as animation and BIM modelling to
illustrate how the data center will look and operate
on completion.
In addition our 3D models will be developed throughout
the construction process to provide depictive information,
prefabrication, onsite co-ordination and hard asset
tagging data.
Our service includes;
• Design brief production ensuring that our client’s
requirements are interpreted accurately
• Design production that clearly illustrates the scope and
procurement requirements of physical components
within the data center
• Programming that provides a roadmap to steer the
project smoothly from start to finish
• Illustration of spatial, electrical, and mechanical criteria
with accurate co-ordination
• Early operational insight to ensure thorough
understanding of operation and maintenance
9. 08 | 09
“ISG was able to bring
real value to the final
stages of the detailed
design process, with
innovative ideas
for prefabrication
techniques, budget
management and future
maintenance solutions”
Robert Thorogood
Executive Director | hurleypalmerflatt
10. “The pre-construction
period was entered
into on a collaborative
basis with the joint
aim of securing
comprehensive
proposals for the
right cost”
Jim Hart
Partner | Business Critical Systems
EC Harris
11. 10 | 11
Pre-construction
Establishing certainty
This is a vital stage of any construction project as any time
lost will often manifest itself in the construction phase. ISG
carefully plans and procures for certainty. We clearly identify
all aspects of the procurement and construction process
to provide a detailed and transparent route to success.
This includes early identification of potential risks and how
they will be overcome, costs and the financial management
process, as well as benchmarks for measuring performance.
Our experience in delivering data centers, which range
in size and complexity across international locations,
has resulted in ISG establishing a vast network of
skilled suppliers and sub-contractors. In addition we are
continually seeking out new innovation and, at the pre-
construction stage, identify areas where we will challenge
existing methods and technology.
Our service includes;
• Defining construction methodology, programme
milestones and phasing requirements
• Risk analysis and alert to potential single points of
failure
• Identifying local permitting regulations and obtaining
permission
• Logistics planning
• Production of a detailed commissioning plan
• Cost analysis and the production of a transparent
financial management plan
• Assessment and procurement of suppliers
and sub-contractors
12. “The team’s
ability to react and
adapt to change
to facilitate the
evolving design
process was
excellent.”
Maurice Julian
Critical Facilities Manager | HP
13. 12 | 13
Construction
Assurance guaranteed
ISG’s total construction offering includes deep excavation,
groundworks and new build, on both green-field and brown-
field sites, structural refurbishment and alterations, data
center fit out and engineering services.
We operate under all forms of contract including lump sum
fixed price, construction management, design and build
or two stage as well as international forms of contract,
depending on our clients requirements.
Our project teams on site include experts in every aspect of
physical construction and engineering. They are assisted by
ISG’s comprehensive international support services such as
legal compliance, human resources and industrial relations,
IT, health, safety and environmental compliance as well as
marketing and public relations.
ISG strives to deliver every project to achieve absolute
completion, to the highest quality standards, on time and
on budget.
Our service includes;
• New build facilities
• Building conversion and refurbishment
• Technical installation and integration
• Integration of other services such as BMS and EMS
• Critical infrastructure upgrades
• Plant replacement
• White space deployment
• IT systems design and deployment
• Obtaining validation such as LEED and BREEAM
14. “Great result -
I know these things
don’t happen
by accident so
thank you and
please pass on my
thanks to all those
involved.”
Richard Smith
Director | RBS
15. 14 | 15
Commissioning &
Pre-Deployment
Absolute completion
Our specialist engineers engage with the project to evaluate
the intended programme, review the practical aspects of the
commissioning, integrate the system dependencies and
provide ring-fenced periods with critical milestones to
achieve a successful completion.
During the execution of the project the team will produce
definitive regular reports plotting commissioning progress
against the base line delivery programme. Our technical
engineering skills enable us to highlight potential
forthcoming risks and propose corrective measures to
mitigate these risks. Our procedures and approach are
purposely flexible to ensure that we are able to create
bespoke solutions for each individual project.
Integrated system testing is a vitally important process in
any critical services installation. Our team has a wealth
of experience to ensure that the supporting engineering
infrastructure is subjected to a structured programme of
simulated critical failures and that each element is proven
functional at the required design capacity.
Our service includes;
• Witnessing and verification of system testing and
commissioning results
• IST definition
• FAT witnessing and verification
• Comprehensive O&M manuals
• Scope and specification training
• Operation and maintenance training
• Audit trail of the commissioning processes
• Scripted tests to ensure all potential failures
are simulated
16. Deployment
Live and running
The physical move to any new property can be challenging
for many departments in an organisation, particularly when
moving into a newly completed data center. At the planning
stage we will have highlighted those stakeholders who are
most likely to be affected and have developed strategies
to assist with a smooth transition. Although the data center
has undergone the most rigorous commissioning and
testing regime we work alongside our client throughout
the deployment period. This ensures that we experience
the data center operating under its full regime of possible
scenarios, under the control of its day-to-day users.
With the data center fully operational we assist our client
to assess the impact on all areas of their business. We are
on hand to fine-tune adjustable functions so that the data
center maximises its efficiency.
We also advise on and attend to Day 2 works that can arise
once our client’s workforce has settled in and operations
commence at the organisation’s regular pace.
Our service includes;
• Asset management
• Change management
• Physical moves and changes
• Day 2 works
• Decommissioning vacated space
17. 16 | 1708 | 09
“The expertise
shown by ISG in the
closing phases of the
project assisted in
the smooth transition
to facility ready”
Data Center Manager
International financial institution
18. “The project to
upgrade our critical
infrastructure
could be likened to
performing open
heart surgery on
someone playing
squash.”
Board Director
International financial institution
19. 18 | 19
Data Center upgrades
Resilience and longevity
In today’s economy a newly built data center is not
necessarily the answer. Sometimes the best decision is to
upgrade and improve existing facilities.
We deliver a full range of technical and engineering services,
most often delivered in live environments that cannot
tolerate any down-time or inconvenience to stakeholders.
Our skill base includes experts in both mechanical and
electrical disciplines, alongside engineers who specialise
in design, building management systems, fire engineering
and commissioning.
Consequently we provide a wide range of services from
system performance and condition validation exercises
through to full turnkey design and install projects.
Our service includes;
• Capital plant replacement
• Infrastructure upgrade
• Utility upgrade
• Seamless integration with existing services
• Design and build solutions
• System validation and performance testing
• Commissioning management
• Building fabric refurbishment
20. Our data center team is supported by the
international ISG Group that operates in
26 countries and employs over 2,500 direct
employees worldwide.
ISG is an international construction services
company delivering fit out, construction and a
range of management services. Our consistent
delivery across geographies makes us the
partner of choice for multi-national and local
organisations building, refurbishing or fitting
out their spaces.
ISG commenced operations in 1989. Our
earliest projects led to repeat business and
referrals for both local and international work,
and we quickly established a reputation for
high-quality delivery.
Accordingly our client portfolio has grown to
embrace new industries and the company has
gone on to successfully deliver many projects
across the finance, professional services,
information technology, data center, media,
petrochemical, hospitality and retail sectors.
The Group has an annual turnover in
excess of £1 billion.
About ISG
22. Contact ISG’s
Data Center team
Jim McCarthy
Head of Engineering Services
m: 07875 325 363
e: jim.mccarthy@isgplc.com
Caroline Batter
Head of Pre-construction
m: 0789 9845 151
e: caroline.batter@isgplc.com
Paul Pompili
Project Director
m: 07774 858 536
e: paul.pompili@isgplc.com
Dave Newitt
Commercial Director
m: 07921 109 781
e: dave.newitt@isgplc.com
Paul Dickson
Operations Director
m: 0780 5875 419
e: paul.dickson@isgplc.com
Mark Dawkins
Project Director
m: 07841 781753
e: mark.dawkins@isgplc.com
23.
24. ISG plc
Aldgate House, 33 Aldgate High Street, London, EC3N 1AG
T: +44 (0)20 7247 1717
E: email@isgplc.com
Printed on recycled paper (ISG 1217 -11/2012)
Construction | Fit Out | Specialist Services
www.isgplc.com/datacenters
