CommercialHSBC GSC Krakow Shell & Core and Cat A & Cat B fit-out

Loop Engineering were involved from inception to provide Shell & Core and Cat A & Cat B fit-out design on this prestigious project in Krakow for a large international banking client as it acts as their global service centre in Europe.

We were initially appointed to assist with site selection and short listing which was followed by lease negotiations with the developer and client (Skanska). The building selected is in a prime location just near Krakow city centre and consists of an 8 story building plus 3 basement levels containing parking and plant areas.

Loop developed the detailed scope for the Cat A infrastructure works which entailed resilience upgrades to the basebuild offering. The chilled water infrastructure was upgraded, with an additional chiller and cooling tower being added for resilience. Electrical upgrades included the addition of N+N UPS and generator support to the building, with increased fuel storage requiring a separate permit. Dual UPS busbars were added serving all floors with salt and peppering of all desk power. Water storage was also added in the basement. The IT provisions were also upgraded as part of the Cat A with dual intake points on opposite sides of the building following fire protected routes to separate risers up to the main Comms Room.

Following the successful Cat A implementation, we then developed the Cat B design specifications which covered the fit-out of the 1st to 5th floors. The designs incorporated the clients requirements for controlled access routes which also influenced the mechanical and smoke ventilation design. The floors were configured as mostly open plan with meeting rooms and central office functions housed on the 2nd floor. The main Comms Room was located centrally in the building on the 3rd floor.

The main Comms Room was designed to be fully resilient with gas suppression, leak detection, upgraded access control, diverse IT infrastructure and routes increased raised floor, anti-tailgating lobby, resilient UPS and downflow CRAC units. Cold aisle containment was installed to reduce operational costs and allow closer temperature control. The room fabric was also upgraded as part of the Cat A works with the room being tanked at floor level and on the floor above to protect the room from water ingress. CER was located between the cores where the allowable structural loadings were higher.

Loop Engineering oversaw all the Site Acceptance Testing (SAT) of the key plant and helped to develop the required Integrated Systems Test (IST) testing requirements which we then supervised and signed off.

Following the Cat A and Cat B fit-outs of floors 1-5, Loop were appointed to develop the Cat B design for the 6th floor of the Kapelanka development. This entailed designing the MEP services to suit the proposed desking layouts required by the client. The works entailed small power and UPS fit-out works including extending busbar risers to the 6th floor. The air-conditioning system was designed to connect to the existing basebuild infrastructure and included CO2 monitoring for meeting rooms and cellular offices.

Loop Engineering undertook frequent site visits, witnessed commissioning and attended the reduced scope IST testing of the facility.