Analogue
Issue 02, Sep 2020
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Issue 02, Sep 2020
As an international financial and commercial hub, Hong Kong is a prime location for data centres. Investor interest in data centres has surged in recent years as rapid enhancements in big data, cloud computing and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies, along with soaring 5G network and broadband penetration, have fuelled ever-rising demand for secure data centre facilities and services.
A recent Jones Lang LaSalle report predicts that total data centre space in Hong Kong will grow by about 4.2 million square feet over the next four years, an increase of more than 50% on the current stock of 7.9 million square feet. However, supply will continue to be tight in view of huge market demand.
The COVID-19 pandemic has boosted such demand, with more people using the Internet to work, shop, attend school classes and access audio-visual entertainment from home.
“With solid experience in data centre E & M design, installation, operation and maintenance, ATAL is the leader in this sector and well-positioned to help clients tap into the growing market,” said Victor Law, Executive Director and Managing Director of ATAL Engineering Group. The ATAL portfolio encompasses many key players in the data centre market, including public utilities, banks and financial services institutions, data centre hosting companies, IT and telecommunication service providers and the Government of HKSAR.
With one of the largest in-house project and services teams, we provide integrated, customised data centre solutions encompassing precision air-conditioning, uninterrupted power supply, fire suppression, security control, water leakage detection, structured cabling and builder’s work, with E&M infrastructure designed to Tier III and Tier IV standards.
Whether the data centre is in a converted part of an existing industrial building, built on a site acquired from government land sales, or a redevelopment on an industrial lot, we have the expertise to build a secure, resilient and environment-friendly facility and to ensure its energy-efficient and problem-free operation and maintenance.
ATAL’s portfolio features many prominent clients in this sector, such as the Government which is a major user of data centres. We provide comprehensive E&M infrastructure, building services and IT structured cabling services to the new Cheung Sha Wan Government Data Centre Complex, scheduled for completion in 2021. With construction floor area of about 13,800 square metres and some 1,400 racks of server space, 10 MW IT Load, this 13-storey purpose-built facility features many environmental measures for greener operations.
Another recent project was for a renowned international colocation company. We provided design, supply, installation, testing and commissioning, and maintenance services for a Tier III data centre, converted on one floor of an existing industrial building in Sha Tin. With plant rooms of about 6,000 square metres and a data hall of 1,500 square metres, the works were completed in just eight months.
Other notable ATAL projects include a new data centre for China Unicom in Tseung Kwan O, the company’s first and largest facility outside mainland China. With gross floor area exceeding 40,000 square metres and more than 4,000 racks of server space, this Tier III+ data centre was completed within 18 months, using off-site prefabrication and on-site assembly for maximum efficiency.
ATAL was E&M contractor for NTT Communications Hong Kong Financial Data Center Towers 1 and 2 in Tseung Kwan O, another fast-track project. Our scope of work ranged from supply, installation, testing and commissioning to maintenance of E&M infrastructure facilities. BIM technology and an integrated management system were applied to optimise project management for this Tier III+ facility.
ATAL is confident of the potential of the data centre sector and the Group’s ability to expand its data centre business. We will leverage our experience and technological edge to help clients capture the opportunities and serve the community.
Left: ATAL is a leading service provider in data centre infrastructure
Middle: We provide full range of solutions for data centre infrastructure
Right: China Unicom (Hong Kong) Global Center
Left: Financial Data Center Tower 2, NTT Communications
Middle: Government Data Centre Complex in Cheung Sha Wan
Right: Conversion from industrial buildings to data centres has become the latest trend for development