The Observer Building, Hastings: fibre, Wi-Fi and security infrastructure
ACCL delivered the integrated communications and security infrastructure behind the restoration of one of Hastings’ most recognisable heritage buildings.
Built in 1924 as the offices and print works of the Hastings & St Leonards Observer, the seven-storey Observer Building stood derelict for decades before Hastings Commons acquired it in 2019 for £1.15 million. ACCL was appointed to deliver the integrated communications and security infrastructure behind the £6.7 million+ regeneration, including a fibre optic backbone, structured data cabling, Wi-Fi, CCTV, access control and EPOS connectivity across the building’s mix of community, residential, hospitality and creative spaces.
The result
ACCL delivered a complete integrated technology and security infrastructure across a nearly century-old, seven-storey building. The completed installation now supports:
- High-speed fibre optic connectivity to the roof terrace
- Building-wide structured data cabling infrastructure
- Public and operational Wi-Fi across ten access points
- CCTV surveillance across 21 cameras
- Electronic access control across 15 doors
- EPOS connectivity for the bar and events space
- Connectivity for the OBX creative technology hub
- A platform supporting residential, community and public use simultaneously
Services delivered
Overview
The Observer Building is one of Hastings’ most recognisable historic buildings. Constructed in 1924 as the offices and printing works of the Hastings & St Leonards Observer, the seven-storey building provides approximately 4,000 sqm of industrial and commercial space in the heart of Hastings. After the newspaper vacated the building in 1984, the property remained largely unused and increasingly derelict, and despite passing through numerous owners, little was done to protect or restore it.
That changed in 2019 when Hastings Commons Neighbourhood Ventures acquired the Observer Building for £1.15 million, with an ambitious objective: to bring the building “back from the brink” and transform it into an inclusive, affordable and sustainable community asset. Upper floors have been converted to capped-rent residential accommodation, and the building now incorporates a ground-floor public events venue, OBX (a creative technology hub on the mezzanine), a public bar and roof terrace with views towards the sea and Hastings Castle, a dedicated youth-focused space, and flexible community and creative areas.
Significant investment was also made in restoring important elements of the original building, including the distinctive 1924 terracotta-glazed façade and the redevelopment of the subterranean Vaults, incorporating new building services, damp treatment and flooring to return previously unusable areas to productive use. More than £6.7 million has been invested in the wider renovation programme. As part of this redevelopment, ACCL was appointed to deliver the integrated communications and security infrastructure, including fibre optic connectivity, structured data cabling, Wi-Fi, CCTV and access control.
The challenge
Transforming a building constructed for newspaper production almost a century earlier into a modern mixed-use environment presented a very different challenge from installing technology infrastructure within a conventional new-build development.
The completed building needed to support residents, staff, visitors, public events, hospitality operations and creative technology facilities, which required several previously separate technologies to operate across a common communications infrastructure. ACCL therefore had to consider not only the immediate requirements of the project but also the resilience, maintainability and future expansion of the building’s network.
Project context
Hastings, East Sussex
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More than 20 trades working on site
One of the biggest challenges was not the technology itself but the environment in which it had to be installed. After decades of limited maintenance, the building presented numerous physical constraints: existing construction, restricted risers, difficult cable routes and challenging access points all had to be considered when planning installation routes. The Vaults presented additional challenges because of the historic condition of the structure and the extensive building works required to return these areas to usable space, so cable routes had to be coordinated carefully with both the existing structure and the new mechanical and electrical services.
At peak periods, more than 20 different trades were operating within the building. In a relatively constrained footprint, coordination became critical , cable installation could not be considered in isolation, and routes, containment, access requirements and installation sequences had to be continually coordinated with the wider construction programme. A delay affecting one trade could quickly prevent another from completing its work. Flexible working and careful sequencing allowed ACCL engineers to adapt as different areas of the building became available.
Technologies used
ACCL’s role
This project required considerably more than the installation of cabling and hardware into another building. ACCL provided Hastings Commons and 8Build with a complete integrated communications and security infrastructure, including:
- Fibre optic backbone infrastructure
- Structured data cabling throughout the building
- Wi-Fi infrastructure across public and operational areas
- CCTV design and installation
- Electronic access control across 15 doors
- EPOS connectivity for hospitality and till positions
- Coordination with 8Build and Project Manager Pedro Aguiar
- Cable route planning within a complex heritage structure
- Sequencing alongside 20+ trades on a constrained site
- Communications infrastructure for public and operational areas
Supporting the regeneration of Hastings
The Observer Building has gone from being one of Hastings’ most prominent derelict properties to becoming an important part of the town’s regeneration. Modern communications infrastructure may be largely invisible once a project is completed, but it is fundamental to how a building like this operates: fibre, structured cabling, Wi-Fi, CCTV and access control now form part of the underlying technology platform supporting the people, organisations and businesses occupying the building.
For ACCL, the project demonstrates how carefully designed communications infrastructure can be successfully introduced into a complex heritage environment without compromising the character or future ambitions of the building. The Observer Building can now operate simultaneously as a community venue, creative technology hub, hospitality destination, residential development and public space.
Related guidance
Foreword by Wayne
“The Observer Building was a particularly rewarding project because this wasn’t simply about installing cabling and technology into another building. We were helping bring a building that had stood largely unused for decades back into the heart of the Hastings community. From a technical perspective, it was a challenging environment: we were integrating fibre, Wi-Fi, CCTV, access control and structured cabling into a nearly 100-year-old building while more than 20 different trades were working around us. That requires planning, flexibility and, above all, good communication between everyone involved. Pedro Aguiar and the 8Build team deserve particular credit , Pedro’s forward planning and can-do approach made a real difference when dealing with the inevitable challenges that arise on a refurbishment of this complexity. The finished building demonstrates something we strongly believe at ACCL: heritage buildings don’t have to compromise when it comes to modern technology. With the right design and infrastructure, you can preserve what makes a building special while providing the connectivity and security expected from a modern development.”Wayne Connors, Managing Director, ACCL
Frequently asked questions
What technology infrastructure did ACCL install at the Observer Building?
ACCL delivered the integrated communications and security infrastructure for the redevelopment, including a fibre optic backbone, structured data cabling, Wi-Fi, CCTV, access control and EPOS connectivity for hospitality and till positions.
How many CCTV cameras were installed at the Observer Building?
ACCL installed approximately 21 CCTV cameras positioned throughout strategic internal and public areas of the building, providing building management with enhanced visibility as part of the overall security strategy.
How many doors are covered by the access control system?
Approximately 15 doors were incorporated into the building’s electronic access control system, enabling controlled movement between public, residential, operational and restricted areas.
How many Wi-Fi access points were installed?
ACCL installed cabling infrastructure supporting approximately ten Wi-Fi access points, providing coverage across the roof terrace and the building’s principal public spaces, including the bar, events venue and OBX creative hub.
Why was fibre optic connectivity installed to the roof terrace?
The roof terrace is one of the Observer Building’s key public spaces, with a bar and views towards the sea and Hastings Castle. ACCL installed dedicated fibre connectivity between the roof terrace and the Main Equipment Room to provide a high-capacity communications backbone for services in this area.
What challenges did ACCL face working in a heritage building?
After decades of limited maintenance, the building presented restricted risers, difficult cable routes and challenging access points, particularly in the subterranean Vaults. Cable routes had to be coordinated carefully with the existing structure and new mechanical and electrical services, while more than 20 trades worked on site at peak periods.
Who else worked on the Observer Building redevelopment?
Hastings Commons Neighbourhood Ventures was the client and building owner, 8Build was the main contractor, IF_DO was the architect, and Pedro Aguiar was Project Manager. ACCL worked closely with 8Build and Pedro Aguiar to keep the communications and security installation aligned with the wider construction programme.
What is the Observer Building used for now?
The restored building operates as a mixed-use community asset combining capped-rent residential accommodation, a public events venue, the OBX creative technology hub, a public bar and roof terrace, a youth-focused space, and flexible community and creative areas.
How much has been invested in the Observer Building’s regeneration?
Hastings Commons acquired the Observer Building in 2019 for £1.15 million, and more than £6.7 million has since been invested in the wider renovation programme, including restoration of the 1924 terracotta-glazed façade and the subterranean Vaults.
Restoring a heritage building without compromising on technology?
Talk to the team that integrated fibre, Wi-Fi, CCTV and access control into a nearly 100-year-old Hastings landmark.
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