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The UK’s Loughborough University has completed an upgrade project for its two data centres in Leicestershire. Schneider Electric has delivered a data centre modernisation project for the East Midlands-based university in collaboration with its services provider partner on365.

The project saw Schneider Electric and on365 modernise the university’s IT infrastructure at its Haslegrave and Holywell Park data centres with new technologies, including an EcoStruxure Row Data Centre, InRow Cooling solution, Galaxy VS UPS (uninterruptible power supply), and EcoStruxure IT software.

Established in 1909 and based in the Leicestershire town of Loughborough, Loughborough University has around 19,500 students across its 523-acre campus. The university has two primary data centres that act as a failover to one another; its older Haslegrave site, constructed in the 1950s, and a newer facility named Holywell Park, which became operational in 2010.

Delivered in two phases, the project saw on365 first modernise the Haslegrave facility by replacing an aging raised floor that was unstable in places and deploying an EcoStruxure Row Data Centre solution. The company also deployed InRow DX (direct expansion) units to deliver improved cooling reliability and provide the university with a greater ability to cope with unplanned weather events, including heat waves, which had adversely affected its IT and cooling operations during the UK’s 2022 summer heatwave.

Legacy UPSs were replaced with Schneider’s Galaxy VS UPS with lithium-ion batteries. Use of the EcoStruxure Row Data Centre solution also created new space for future IT expansions and extended a ‘no single points of failure’ design throughout the facility. The solution was replicated at the Holywell Park site thereafter.

“At the foundational level of everything which is data-driven at the university, the Haslegrave and Holywell data centres are the power behind a host of advancements in sports science, and our transition towards a more sustainable operation,” says Mark Newall, IT specialist at the University of Loughborough. “Working with Schneider Electric and on365 has enabled our data centre to become more efficient, effective and resilient.”

Data centre management and services

Alongside the new EcoStruxure Row Data Centre, the university upgraded the software used to manage and control its infrastructure. An early adopter of Schneider Electric’s EcoStruxure Data Centre Expert software, Loughborough has now deployed the company’s EcoStruxure IT platform, providing it with enhanced levels of visibility and data-driven insights that help to identify and mitigate potential faults before they become critical.

This, in conjunction with a new three-year Schneider Electric services agreement delivered via on365, has given the university 24×7 access to maintenance support, reflecting its ongoing commitment to protecting the investments in its new infrastructure, and ensures the equipment is fully operational, reliable, and quality maintained. The university also utilises a large distributed, edge network environment, which has in-excess of sixty APC (American Power Conversion) Smart-UPS single-phase UPS’s protecting it. As part of its services agreement, all critical power systems are monitored and maintained via EcoStruxure IT, providing real-time visibility and helping IT personnel to manage the campus’ network more efficiently.

“Having a well-structured preventative maintenance program is vital to ensure that the data centre and IT systems are optimised and operationally efficient,” says Carl Richardson, technology support manager, on365 Ltd. “At on365, we’ve continued to collaborate closely with the university, not only to provide them with significant value, but to ensure they can meet their strict procurement governance whilst having access to our extensive support and services capabilities.”

“As a passionate advocate for sports and academia, I’m proud to see this complex project delivered successfully with our partners at on365,” says Mark Yeeles, VP, secure power division, Schneider Electric, UK and Ireland. “Loughborough has a prestigious reputation and prides itself on its students’ experience. Through its EcoStruxure Data Centre Solution, Schneider Electric will have played an important part in future-proofing its critical infrastructure, helping improve the reliability and sustainability of its IT operations.”

To learn more about the Loughborough University project, visit Loughborough University.

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