Outernet Overview:
Saw-Tec Network Solutions has been awarded the prestigious and extremely exciting project that is Outernet. Outernet is a global network of immersive entertainment districts showcasing music, film, arts and retail experiences using the largest LED screens in the world.
Project Overview:
The Outernet experience brings together the epic scale of 360-degree 8K floor-to-ceiling screens with the world’s greatest storytellers and information providers. Commuters, local communities and tourists will enjoy a new experience every day as Outernet is refreshed by a carousel of broadcasters, video artists, news sources, advertisers and live events. Situated at the nexus of London’s busiest shopping street and the hub of London’s Crossrail high capacity rail network, the Outernet is forecasting an average footfall of 48,000 visitors per working hour. This will be the largest capacity entertainment venue in the heart of London with the highest resolution screens of anywhere in the world. The cultural landmark that is St Giles Circus, district of the West End of London at the eastern end of Oxford Street, where it connects with New Oxford Street, Charing Cross Road and Tottenham Court Road, which it is more often referred to owing to the location of Tottenham Court Road Underground station directly under the junction which opens itself to this amazing and immersive site that is Outernet. The development also encompasses Denmark St, aka “Tin Pan Alley” where there will be 55 session rooms and apartments which will be called Chateau Denmark, all a part of this unique and ground breaking development. It is also on the doorstep to Soho, Covent Garden, Bloomsbury and Fitzrovia, so a perfect location and regeneration of this historic site.
The initial design process of such a vast and ever evolving project began back in October 2019 where we put forward a Category 6a FFTP Siemon solution throughout the site with an OS2 and OM4 Fibre Optic Backbone infrastructure. The kinetic LED columns proved to be a challenge as we had to certify and warrant various fibre optics to run over 1 million bend cycles over a 12 year period, to keep in fitting with the LED screens lifetime cycle. This we achieved by approaching the bespoke cable manufacturer IGUS whom we worked with to design and procure various length fibre count OS2 cables for this sole purpose complete with warranty.
This includes 22 Site wide SER’s, 2 strategically placed MER’s (5 and 8 Cab layout) and a 22 Cabinet Data Centre. D&B of a 3 phase UPS system to support vital DC equipment, this came with both space and payload restraints. The bespoke DC cold aisle was built with water cooled units for optimum air flow and cooling.
We have also undertaken all the AV cabling and are working in conjunction with SSE Audio to deliver this.
Being such a unique project and consisting of 4 zones with a mixture of new and listed buildings over 10 floors in certain areas has brought its challenges, throw Covid19 in the mix which put us all very much on hold. Slowly things are starting up again of which we are working tirelessly alongside the many other bespoke contractors to deliver the Outernet project in 2021 safely.
