Case Study: Delivering a Complete IT Infrastructure Solution for a New London Office
When a global technology company that we have been delivering for, for over fiftern years, relocated to a new London office, Protek Systems was appointed to design and deliver the site’s structured cabling and core IT infrastructure.
The project brought together technical design, communications-room construction, copper and fibre cabling, wireless infrastructure, equipment migration, rack-and-stack services, testing, documentation and go-live support.
The Challenge - New London Office
The client required a resilient, high-performance network infrastructure capable of supporting a modern, technology-led workplace.
The new office needed:
A fully equipped main distribution frame (MDF) and intermediate distribution frame (IDF)
High-density Category 6A connectivity throughout the workplace
Diverse copper and fibre backbone routes
Infrastructure for wireless access points, security cameras, digital signage and AV systems
Secure migration of critical network and server equipment from the client’s existing London office
Clear labelling, comprehensive testing and accurate as-built documentation
Engineering support during the final go-live period
The installation also had to be coordinated with the principal contractor and other trades working across the office fit-out.
Design and Project Coordination
Protek Systems worked closely with the client’s IT team throughout the design and delivery process.
Our design scope included:
Structured cabling system drawings
MDF and IDF layouts
Rack elevations
Patching schedules
Labelling methodologies
Cable-containment designs
Room-ready documentation
General-contractor coordination information
Design revisions as the wider fit-out developed
This collaborative approach allowed infrastructure requirements to be reviewed and refined before installation, while giving the wider project team the information needed to coordinate containment, power, floor penetrations and equipment locations.
MDF and IDF Installation
We constructed the new MDF and IDF using Chatsworth Products four-post adjustable server racks, supported by Chatsworth Products vertical and horizontal cable-management systems.
The installation included six racks across the two communications rooms, together with:
CPI Evolution horizontal cable managers
Double-sided and single-sided vertical cable managers
Overhead CPI cable runway
Cable-distribution spools and radius drops
Fixed equipment shelves
End-of-row panels
PDU mounting brackets
Panduit grounding busbars
Raritan intelligent PDUs
Red and blue power leads to distinguish the separate power feeds
The racks and overhead runway systems were securely fixed, bonded and connected to the rooms’ clean-earth infrastructure.
A separate 42U Prism cabinet was also installed to support the office’s AV infrastructure. This cabinet was equipped with dual Raritan PDUs and connected back to the MDF using Panduit Category 6A cabling.
Copper and Fibre Backbone
Resilient backbone connectivity was installed between the MDF and IDF using physically diverse routes.
The backbone solution included two 24-core Panduit OM4 multimode fibre cables, installed within dedicated conduits and terminated in Panduit fibre drawers with LC connectivity.
A substantial Category 6A copper backbone was also installed between the communications rooms and individual rack positions. Separate routes were used between the MDF and IDF to improve resilience.
Across the backbone, horizontal and supplementary works, the project involved approximately 1,200 Panduit Category 6A links.
All installed cabling was EuroClass Cca compliant.
Horizontal Structured Cabling
The horizontal cabling system was designed to support the complete range of workplace technology, including:
User workstations
Meeting rooms
Wireless access points
Internal and external cameras
Digital signage
AV equipment
Building and operational technology
Additional capacity for future requirements
Panduit Category 6A copper cabling, modules, patch panels and patch cords were used throughout the installation.
Different patch-cord colours were incorporated into the design to make the completed system easier to operate and maintain. Blue patch cords were used for general connectivity, yellow for console connections and green for server-management patching.
MK Electric metal faceplates and Panduit shuttered adapters were installed in areas requiring a robust and professional finish.
Wireless and External Connectivity
The project included the installation and connection of 35 wireless access points using Aruba hardware and AccelTex mounting brackets.
Additional external-grade Panduit cabling and field-terminable plugs were prepared for the building’s external camera system. Protek engineers also supported the installation of camera cabling and provided new and relocated outlets for digital-signage locations.
A Poynting antenna and associated cabling were installed to meet an additional specialist connectivity requirement.
Airflow and Cable Protection
To support effective airflow management within the communications rooms, KoldLok floor seals were installed around cable-entry points in the MDF, IDF and AV cabinet.
Approximately 400 metres of Jezmat protective cable matting was used for low-level cable routes, with pitched bridge sections installed where cabling crossed other services. This provided a clearly defined and protected pathway while reducing the risk of damage during construction and future maintenance activities.
Secure Equipment Migration
As part of the same project, Protek Systems managed the secure transfer of critical IT equipment from the client’s previous London office.
The equipment included:
Arista network switches and optical modules
Aruba wireless access points, mounting brackets and controllers
Aruba SFP+ transceivers
A Lenovo server
Equipment was logged out of the original location, securely packaged and transported directly to the new office by Protek engineers. Two engineers accompanied each movement so that the equipment was never left unattended.
Once at the new site, our team installed approximately 50 active devices, completed the core fibre and copper patching, connected the dual power feeds and dressed and labelled the installation.
Testing, Documentation and Go-Live
Every installed copper link was tested using Fluke Networks test equipment. The completed infrastructure was labelled using engraved panel labels and wrap-around cable identifiers to provide a consistent and easily maintainable system.
At practical completion, Protek Systems produced a comprehensive handover package including:
As-built structured cabling drawings
Final MDF and IDF layouts
Rack elevations
Patching schedules
Labelling information
Cable-containment drawings
Fluke test results
25-year system warranty documentation
Protek engineers also remained available during the client’s go-live period, providing on-site support as users and services moved into the new office.
The Result
The completed project provided the client with a resilient, fully tested and clearly documented IT infrastructure capable of supporting the immediate office launch and future growth.
By managing the design, installation, equipment migration, patching, testing and go-live support as one coordinated package, Protek Systems gave the client a single accountable delivery partner throughout the project.
The result was a professionally installed infrastructure built around high-quality technology from Panduit, CPI, Raritan, Aruba, Arista, Lenovo, Prism, KoldLok, Jezmat, AccelTex, MK Electric, Poynting and Fluke Networks.
Planning a New Office or Technology Relocation?
Protek Systems delivers structured cabling, communications-room infrastructure, equipment migration and go-live support for office and data-centre projects throughout the UK, Europe and North America.
Contact our team to discuss how we can support your next office fit-out, relocation or infrastructure upgrade.
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