The Abertay cyberQuarter is a new cybersecurity research and development centre, intended to support students, academics and industry organisations to help solve global cybersecurity challenges. The facility is housed over 4 floors of what was the university ‘students centre’ on the main Dundee campus, and aims to;

• Increase technical problem solving for industry.

• Increase industry-academia interaction and collaboration.

• Increase access to cyber employment opportunities in the area.

Hulley & Kirkwood initially undertook a feasibility study working on behalf of the university, and subsequently were appointed by the main contractor, McLaughlin & Harvey Construction Ltd for delivery of the design and project via the SCAPE framework. The appointment extended to a full MEP service.

Due to the age of the building and the significant change in use, the consideration and design approach to the MEP services were pivotal in the success of the project. Key examples being;

• Hulley & Kirkwood undertook a series of non-intrusive surveys of the student's centre and a detailed lifecycle assessment of the existing MEP services in order to inform the design development and ensure that legacy or lifecycle issues were dealt with by the project.

• The significant change in use required that the HVAC strategy (both centrally and locally) required to be assessed and modified to suit the design proposals to ensure comfort was maintained throughout. This required a wholesale shift from underfloor heating to 4-pipe fan coil units in some areas.

• Hulley & Kirkwood collaborated closely with the project architects / interior designers to ensure that the design and specification of the MEP services complimented the overarching aesthetic and ethos. MEP services were substantially exposed at the soffit and therefore the coordination and treatment of same was crucial.

• In the absence of a raised access floor, the distribution of electrical power and data services to fixed or loose furniture had to be carefully designed and coordinated to ensure a logical and adaptable installation. 

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