Data Centre - West London
Client: Vantage Data Centres (VDC)
Size: 20MW
Appointment: Commissioning Authority (CxA)
Sygna supported the creation of a cutting-edge Data Centre for Vantage Data Centres (VDC) that also showcases the captivating public artwork “11 Million Dots”.
The installation was designed to celebrate the evolving history and identity of the Park Royal London community, while harmonising with the buildings' architecture. To do so, artist Raf captured ambient sounds and conducted audio interviews with over 120 local residents and business owners. These recordings were translated into binary code and audio waveforms, then transformed into visuals evoking micro-processing chips, maps, and landscapes. The result is a six-storey perforated aluminium façade, overlooking an adjoining London park. As light and seasons change, the perforations reveal glimpses of greenery and sky, allowing the artwork to blend seamlessly with its environment.
The project had dual ambitions: to deliver a state-of-the-art Data Centre meeting all technical commissioning requirements as defined by VDC, while ensuring the artwork was fully integrated (structurally, architecturally and aesthetically) with durability, maintainability and performance at its core.
Our Challenges:
Sygna were appointed by VDC to oversee the commissioning of this technically advanced facility, within a tight construction programme, to affirm the building’s technical resilience, whilst preserving the building’s artistic integrity.
Our Approach:
Early Engagement: Our commissioning team was brought in early to review the MEP design. Drawings and specifications were reviewed early for commissionability and maintainability.
Proactive Stakeholder Liaison: Close collaboration between the General Contractor (GC), their Commissioning Manager (CxM), Architects’ design team and OFCI vendors, to ensure clear lines of responsibility, design intent and scheduling.
Integrated Cx Planning: Commissioning levels 1 through 5 across the building’s critical engineering systems. Development of test scripts, method statements, and commissioning programmes.
Witnessing & Verification: Fully witnessing across commissioning levels (L1–L5) for all critical systems.
Key Responsibilities:
Reviewed Basis of Design (BoD), technical specifications and drawings across design stages to finalise Cx Criteria & requirements.
Developed the Commissioning (Cx) Plan.
Developed the Cx Programme for Levels 4 & 5.
Prepared test scripts for Cx Level 4 (Functional Performance Testing), and Level 5 (Integrated Systems Testing).
Reviewed all Cx Plans, strategy, programmes, method statements, and test scripts submitted by GC/CxM, MEP contractors and OFCI Vendors - ensuring they cover all elements of the integrated technical building systems.
Oversaw CxM Levels 1–3 scripts, logging any issues and monitoring through to resolution.
Full Witnessing and Authorisation of Cx Levels 1–5 activities for critical MEP systems.
Prepared the Final Cx Report once all levels were successfully completed, with all critical issues resolved.
Added Value:
Early engagement in Design work stages enabled initiation of commissioning reviews of the complex critical engineering systems.
Pro-active liaison between the Clients Cx Team, GC and CxM led to a cohesive and robust Cx approach, ensuring milestone dates in the Master Construction Programme were achieved.
Early submission of Cx Documentation (L4-L5), ensuring the commissioning and witnessing process fulfilled client expectations.
Regular and thorough reviews of the commissioning process and documentation issued by the GC, MEPH contractors and OFCI Vendors to ensure specification compliance.
Results:
Phase 1 of LHR21 was successfully commissioned and handed over to VDC in September 2025. The 11 Million Dots artwork was also installed and commissioned seamlessly. Client expectations and satisfaction was high: technical performance, resilience and maintainability, as well as artistic and aesthetic impact. This project stands as a leading example of how Technically Complex Data Centre can integrate public art in a meaningful, technically robust, and visually engaging.
