The Client
Citypoint is a 36 storey landmark tower in the City of London. Built in 1967, the building is one of the largest in the City and was subject to a comprehensive reconstruction in 2001. The building offers over 60,000 square feet of retail including the largest health-club in the square mile and over an acre of public realm. Recent works include development of ‘Podium’ which will offer over 130,000 sq. ft. of contiguous space and more than 7000 sq. ft. of terrace space, completed in 2021.
The Challenge
When CityPoint needed to overhaul its operational and IT infrastructure services, it asked Modern Networks to provide a solution. One of CityPoint’s primary requirements was a refreshment of the IT and communications infrastructure throughout the building. This would ensure CityPoint’s systems remained on the cutting edge of innovation and provided a rock-solid foundation for a reinvigorated business continuity strategy.
The main technical challenge was to remove any single point of failure from the building’s server infrastructure and telephone network. The task was to build a resilient, future-proofed IT architecture that fully supported tenants and visitors alike. Internet, telephony, desktops and cabling to wireless network. Alongside its front-of-house capabilities, such as Internet, telephony, desktops and wireless network, CityPoint also needed full back-office systems in place. Making the task a little more complex, Modern Networks had to deal with a variety of different IT solutions, hundreds of devices and multiple suppliers.
The Solution
Starting with the technology, Modern Networks reengineered the IT infrastructure – virtualising the building’s server infrastructure to deliver multiple points of failure and vastly increased resilience and security. A new IP-based telephony network ensured fast, reliable Internet connectivity around the building. Modern Networks also dealt with all third-party suppliers, installation, project management, invoicing, and ongoing service management and support. A single coherent design, deployment and managed service.
The Results
“We’re an innovator in terms of using technology, so we needed to work with someone who fits that outlook,” Lee Murray, CityPoint Build Manager, explained. “Once Modern Networks understood what we were trying to do, and what we needed, their expertise really came to the fore.”
Modern Networks transformed the building’s ICT infrastructure, making it far more resilient and secure. In fact, CityPoint was the first managed property in Europe to receive ISO 22301 accreditation for Business Continuity Management Systems. As well as providing a first-class IT and communications infrastructure, Modern Networks greatly reduced administrative complexity. We removed the need for multiple ICT suppliers, reduced hundreds of telephone bills to a single invoice, and introduced a UK Service Desk for all first line support.
Constant improvement
Since the original IT and telephony refresh, Modern Networks has been heavily involved in the refurbishment of CityPoint’s reception, providing high tech audio and visual systems. Working with the architects, we have helped introduce a new touchscreen concierge system, secure wireless network for tenants, guests and visitors, and worked on-board the building management systems.