Foresight Group, The Shard: integrated office technology infrastructure
Coordinating structured cabling, Wi-Fi, AV, audio, CCTV and access control as one technology package for Foresight Group’s 17,710 sq ft Level 23 workplace at The Shard.
Directly appointed by Foresight Group, ACCL coordinated structured cabling, Wi-Fi infrastructure, communications-room connectivity, AV, audio, CCTV and access control as one technology package for the investment manager’s expanded Level 23 office at The Shard, working alongside fit-out specialist Modus.
The result
ACCL delivered one coordinated technology package for a premium London workplace. The completed project gave Foresight Group:
- Direct appointment by Foresight Group
- Integrated delivery alongside fit-out partner Modus
- Wi-Fi and meeting-room connectivity throughout
- Panasonic 55-inch and 84-inch displays
- Nuvo and Sonos audio infrastructure
- CCTV and access-control infrastructure
Services delivered
Overview: Foresight Group The Shard office fit-out
Foresight Group had moved its UK headquarters into The Shard in 2014. Continued growth soon created the need for substantially more space, and in 2015 the investment manager expanded into the entire Level 23, creating a workplace of approximately 17,710 sq ft.
Foresight appointed ACCL directly to deliver the technology infrastructure behind the new office. Working alongside workplace design and fit-out specialist Modus, ACCL provided a multi-discipline package covering Excel Category 6 structured cabling, Wi-Fi infrastructure, the communications room, meeting-room and presentation connectivity, Panasonic displays, Nuvo and Sonos audio, CCTV and access control, treated as one connected infrastructure rather than a collection of unrelated systems.
The challenge
Delivering a technology installation inside The Shard required close control of access, deliveries, material movements and working practices, alongside coordinating a wide range of networked workplace systems without compromising the quality of the completed fit-out.
The risk of late changes was significant. Data outlets affected furniture layouts, wireless access points affected ceilings, displays affected walls and joinery, access control affected doors and frames, and CCTV positions affected ceilings and sight lines. Once architectural finishes were complete, correcting a missing cable or misplaced outlet would have been disruptive and expensive, so the infrastructure had to be designed around how Foresight would use the workplace and installed at the correct point in the programme.
Building the network foundation
The Excel Category 6 structured cabling system formed the physical foundation for the Level 23 technology environment, supporting desks, wireless access points, meeting and conference rooms, displays, AV equipment, CCTV, access control, printers and shared workplace technology. Planning these requirements together allowed outlets and cable routes to be coordinated before walls, ceilings, furniture and finishes restricted access.
The communications-room infrastructure was designed around clarity and maintainability, with organised termination, labelling and cable management to help engineers identify circuits and investigate faults without unnecessarily disturbing other services.
Wireless infrastructure designed into the fit-out
Wireless connectivity formed an important part of the Level 23 technology strategy. ACCL installed the structured cabling required for the office Wi-Fi network and coordinated access-point connectivity with the finished workplace layout, with the position of meeting rooms, partitions, glazed areas, collaboration spaces and denser occupation zones all influencing where wireless infrastructure would be needed.
Addressing access-point connectivity during the fit-out meant cabling could be integrated cleanly, reducing the need for disruptive alterations after occupation.
Project context
Premium commercial office · Level 23, The Shard, Southwark
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Meeting rooms and the 50-person conference environment
The workplace included a range of meeting and collaborative settings, extending to a conference environment designed for approximately 50 people. ACCL provided the structured connectivity needed to integrate these rooms with the wider network and AV installation, with Panasonic 55-inch and 84-inch displays serving rooms of different sizes.
The underlying infrastructure accounted for data and AV connections, signal routes, equipment locations, cable concealment and future maintenance access, so the connections were in place where the finished rooms needed them.
Audio integrated with the workplace
Nuvo and Sonos audio formed another part of ACCL’s coordinated package. Their supporting infrastructure had to be planned around speaker positions, equipment, network connections, control, power, cable routes and the surrounding finishes. Incorporating audio into the wider technology programme allowed these dependencies to be resolved alongside the data and AV installation, reducing the chance of late cabling routes or visible additions undermining the completed design.
CCTV and access control
Security infrastructure was delivered as part of the same programme. ACCL provided the CCTV element required for Foresight’s workplace and coordinated camera infrastructure with ceilings, lighting, walls and the intended coverage areas.
Access control required equally careful early coordination because readers, locks, doors, frames, power and cabling crossed several construction disciplines. By working with Modus and the wider fit-out team, ACCL could incorporate those requirements while the workplace was being built rather than adding them after completion.
Technologies used
ACCL’s role
ACCL was contracted directly by Foresight Group and worked alongside Modus, which was responsible for the workplace design and fit-out. This gave ACCL a direct understanding of the client’s operational requirements while keeping the technology work aligned with the construction programme. Our role included:
- Representing Foresight’s technology requirements within the fit-out
- Coordinating data, wireless, AV, audio and security infrastructure
- Planning precise first-fix positions before finishes closed access
- Delivering communications-room connectivity and cable management
- Testing the installed Category 6 structured cabling
- Supporting a clear and maintainable handover
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Related guidance
Foreword by Wayne
“Foresight Group’s Level 23 project was an important example of how closely the technologies in a modern office need to be coordinated. We were appointed directly by Foresight and worked alongside Modus to bring the cabling, wireless, meeting-room, audio and security requirements into one programme. In a building such as The Shard, the infrastructure behind the walls and ceilings has to meet the same standard as the visible workplace. Getting the first fix right was critical, because returning after the finishes were complete was never going to be an acceptable plan.”Wayne Connors, Managing Director, ACCL
Frequently asked questions
What did ACCL deliver for Foresight Group at The Shard?
ACCL delivered Excel Category 6 structured cabling, Wi-Fi infrastructure, communications-room connectivity, meeting-room and AV infrastructure, Panasonic displays, Nuvo and Sonos audio, CCTV and access control.
Where was the project delivered?
The project covered Foresight Group’s entire Level 23 workplace at The Shard, 32 London Bridge Street, London SE1 9SG.
How large was Foresight Group’s Level 23 office?
The project covered approximately 17,710 sq ft of office accommodation.
Which structured cabling system was installed?
ACCL installed an Excel Category 6 structured cabling system.
Did ACCL provide the Wi-Fi infrastructure?
Yes. The structured connectivity required to support the office Wi-Fi network formed part of ACCL’s scope.
What meeting-room technology was included?
The project included meeting-room and AV connectivity together with Panasonic 55-inch and 84-inch displays.
How many people could the principal conference environment accommodate?
The brief called for a conference environment designed for approximately 50 people.
Did ACCL deliver both CCTV and access control?
Yes. CCTV and access-control infrastructure were included in the coordinated technology package.
Who delivered the workplace fit-out alongside ACCL?
ACCL worked alongside workplace design and fit-out specialist Modus, having been appointed directly by Foresight Group.
Why was early coordination important on this project?
The project connected technology requirements with furniture, ceilings, walls, displays and doors. Early coordination helped put infrastructure in the right place before completed finishes made changes difficult and expensive.
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