Protecting uptime while expanding a live, mission-critical university data centre

The University of Melbourne engaged SHAPE to expand one of its two enterprise data centres at 258 Queensberry Street, Carlton, increasing white space capacity to support research computing, cloud-based initiatives, and disaster recovery across geographically separated sites. Funding deadlines created firm, non-negotiable programme milestones, and the facility remained operationally live throughout construction.

Working inside an active data centre environment, SHAPE implemented a structured change management programme before works commenced, sequencing all construction activity to protect adjacent data halls and maintain critical services redundancy at every stage. Scope across the programme included:

• Data hall white space construction across 1,500 m2
• HV/LV power distribution and UPS integration
• Scalable chilled water cooling systems designed for energy efficiency and future densification
• VESDA and access control systems coordinated around live operational zones
• MEP services coordination to protect uptime across active adjacent data halls

The relationship continued across two further engagements at the same facility. SHAPE returned to deliver a data services infrastructure upgrade, and subsequently completed ceiling rectification works to Data Hall 1 and a DRUPS (Diesel Rotary Uninterruptible Power Supply) unit upgrade to Data Hall 2, on a construction management basis with FPPV Architecture.

Each re-engagement required the same discipline: structured access protocols, daily coordination with the university’s facilities management team, and rigorous sequencing to keep operational systems protected throughout. The university’s decision to return to SHAPE across multiple scopes reflects consistent delivery inside one of its most sensitive technical environments.