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Coventry University upgrades library with new data and electrical cabling system
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ULTI-compartment trunking from cable management specialist, Unitrunk, is being used to provide the new data and electrical cabling infrastructure for an upgrade to the library at Coventry University.
Designed by Birmingham-based practice, Associated Architects, the £2.1m library upgrade includes a new entrance, reception and café for the library, along with refurbishment of some of the study areas. To enable the library to remain open for use throughout the project, the electrical installation will be delivered in two phases, with the new build elements completed in June and the phase II refurbishment programme due for hand over in August. Unitrunk’s trunking has been used in two sizes to connect all electrical, LV and data services from the existing risers in the newly constructed and refurbished areas. All the trunking is being installed in the ceiling void and power and lighting cables will be installed in one compartment, while the other
compartment will be used to contain data, fire alarm and LV cabling. The electrical installation is being carried out by Whittaker Brothers, which worked closely with the university and the other delivery partners on the project to manage the challenges of an occupied building and temporary access, particularly during the busy exam season as Phase I neared completion. Kevin Rollason from Whittaker Brothers commented: “Multi-compartment trunking is an obvious choice for a complex project like this, where new build and refurbishment is being carried out in a live library environment. It means that we can install all the infrastructure for the cabling on a single type of containment, saving time to ensure the project is fully completed on schedule, ready for the new academic year in the autumn. “Unitrunk’s multi-compartment trunking is a standard specification for Whittaker Brothers because it’s robust and easy to install. Thanks to Unitrunk’s UK manufacturing and national depot
network, we also have the peace of mind that comes with knowing that we can have what we need delivered to site quickly, ensuring our installation schedule remains on track.”
Coventry University was known as Lanchester Polytechnic until 1987, and Coventry Polytechnic until it was awarded university status in 1992. Its four faculties, which are made up of schools and departments, run around 300 undergraduate and postgraduate courses. Across the university there are 11 research centres which specialise in different fields, from transport to peace studies. With more than 29,000 students in 2017, Coventry University is the larger of the two universities in the city – the other being the University of Warwick – and the fastest growing university in the UK. It has two principal campuses: one in the centre of Coventry where the majority of its operations are located, and one in central London which focuses on business and management courses. The university also runs offshoot higher education institutions in Coventry (next door to its main campus), Scarborough, North Yorkshire, and East London, each of which markets itself as being an "alternative to mainstream higher education". The Coventry University estate is continually evolving, with a half billion pound investment in its Coventry city campus alone to enhance students’ learning experiences.
Originally established 50 years ago as a family run engineering company, the Unitrunk Group developed a specialised division manufacturing Cable Management Systems in 1984. Unitrunk continued to grow and in 2000 the Group added a strong international dynamic and breadth of cable management services with the strategic acquisition of Vantrunk in Runcorn.
www.unitrunk.co.uk www.associated-architects.co.uk
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