Royal Air Force Museum London: exhibition digital infrastructure
The Royal Air Force (RAF) Museum in Hendon, London, was opened in 1972, to showcase the history of the RAF. The museum was awarded a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund to support redevelopment to celebrate and commemorate the Centenary of the RAF in 2018. Two innovative exhibitions will explore the first one hundred years through the stories of its people and invite visitors to imagine its future contribution and technology.
Royal Air Force Museum London: exhibition digital infrastructure
The structured cabling and fibre platform behind a major technology-led museum exhibition redevelopment.
Working with main contractor Bower Fuller, ACCL delivered the copper, fibre, cabinets and floor-box connectivity required for digital and interactive exhibits throughout Hangar 1.
The result
- Two floors connected
- OM4 backbone installed
- Three satellite cabinets linked
- More than 80 floor boxes distributed
- Approximately 470 Category 6 outlets installed
- Flexible connectivity provided for digital and interactive exhibits
- Infrastructure handed over ready for exhibition fit-out
- Further appointments secured across the Hendon site
Services delivered
Overview
The Royal Air Force Museum London redeveloped Hangar 1 for exhibitions marking the RAF centenary in 2018. Working as specialist subcontractor to Bower Fuller, ACCL was appointed to create the structured cabling and fibre infrastructure required before the exhibition technology was installed.
The challenge
Containment and more than 80 floor boxes had to be designed before the concrete floor was poured. ACCL coordinated closely with Bower Fuller and the electrical contractor because later route changes or additional capacity would have been extremely difficult.
Designing the digital layer before the exhibition fit-out
The floor-box positions, conduits and containment routes had to be resolved before the concrete floor was poured. ACCL worked closely with Bower Fuller and the electrical contractor so more than 80 connection points could be incorporated accurately and with enough capacity for the planned exhibits.
Project context
Heritage museum and major visitor attraction · Hendon, London
Visit the RAF Museum London website →Approximately 470 Cat6 outlets across two floors
ACCL installed approximately 470 Excel Category 6 UTP RJ45 outlets throughout Hangar 1. The layout gave the exhibition fit-out team a broad choice of connection points for interactive displays, digital interpretation and operational equipment without relying on a small number of fixed locations.
OM4 fibre connecting a distributed cabinet architecture
An OM4 multimode fibre backbone connected the main computer room to three satellite communications cabinets. This distributed design supported the copper installation across both floors while keeping the exhibition network centrally connected and ready for the systems that followed.
Ready for the exhibition fit-out team
Once the cabling, backbone and cabinets were complete, ACCL handed the infrastructure over for the exhibition technology installation. The museum subsequently appointed ACCL for work in the Milestones Hangar, the main restaurant and other parts of the Hendon site.
Planning digital infrastructure for an exhibition space?
Early cabling and containment coordination gives exhibition teams the flexibility to introduce interactive technology without redesigning the building fabric.
Technologies used
ACCL’s role
- Structured cabling design and installation
- OM4 backbone installation
- Communications-cabinet deployment
- Floor-box and containment coordination
- Collaboration with Bower Fuller and the electrical contractor
- Testing and handover for exhibition fit-out
Infrastructure supporting a changing visitor experience
The completed platform gave the museum a flexible foundation for interactive exhibitions and led to further ACCL work in the Milestones Hangar, restaurant and other areas of the Hendon campus.
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Foreword by Wayne
Wayne Connors, Managing Director, ACCL“We were delighted to support the Royal Air Force Museum during such an important stage in its development.
The interesting part of this project was that we weren’t simply installing network outlets; we were helping create the digital infrastructure behind an exhibition designed to tell 100 years of RAF history.
With more than 80 floor boxes being incorporated into the building, getting the infrastructure design right before the concrete was poured was critical. It required close coordination between ACCL, Bower Fuller and the electrical team.
The fact that our relationship with the museum continued into further projects across the Hendon site is something we are particularly proud of.”
“ACCL are experts in data cabling and I have been very happy with their approach to the Hangar 1 project and the installation that they carried out. They have developed a very thorough understanding of the Hendon site and I am delighted that we will be working with them on further projects to develop the museum.”
Nick Wright, Head of IT, Royal Air Force Museum
Frequently asked questions
What did ACCL deliver at the RAF Museum?
ACCL delivered structured cabling, an OM4 fibre backbone, communications cabinets and floor-box connectivity for Hangar 1.
How many data outlets were installed?
Approximately 470 Excel Category 6 RJ45 outlets were installed across two floors.
How many floor boxes were included?
More than 80 floor boxes were installed across the exhibition floor.
Why was early coordination important?
The containment and conduits had to be correct before the concrete floor was poured, after which changes would have been difficult.
How was the network distributed?
One main communications room was linked by OM4 fibre to three satellite cabinets.
What did the network support?
It provided the underlying connectivity for digital and interactive exhibition technology.
Who was the main contractor?
Bower Fuller was the main contractor, with ACCL coordinating closely with the electrical team.
Did ACCL work elsewhere at the museum?
Yes. ACCL subsequently supported further infrastructure works across the Hendon site.
Planning a similar infrastructure project?
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