Projects Archive - Curve IT

Building the Digital Core for Maple House

Curve IT — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 11:49:48 +0000

Once home to Maple & Co HQ, the esteemed British furniture and upholstery manufacturer, the brutalist block known as Maple House today is being reinvented.

The Project

The major redevelopment project, commissioned by Lazari Investments, will see Maple House transform into a modern, flexible space that is centred on design, functionality, wellbeing and sustainability.

The full redevelopment will provide a variety of uses and high-quality amenities, including “end-of-journey” facilities and wellness spaces, hospitality spaces and roof terraces, and 110,000 sq ft of contemporary workspace, arranged around the one-acre communal urban forest (Lazari Investments, 2025).

The Challenge

The first phase of the redevelopment, completed in 2024, focused on remodelling the entire reception area and creating the future foundation for Maple House.

The reception needed to balance the building’s Brutalist heritage with a modern, hospitality-inspired design. However, it also needed to serve as a hub for critical digital infrastructure to support the current and future functionality of the building.

Lazari needed a space that could:

Integrate technology without visual compromise: Digital infrastructure had to be introduced without impacting the redesign of the new entrance or the building’s architectural character.

Support multi-tenant operations and future growth: Infrastructure had to be able to handle increasing operational demands and adapt smoothly as new tenants moved in during the phased redevelopment.

Provide long-term resilience as redevelopment progresses: All critical systems had to be supported and be able to securely scale for the ongoing amenity upgrades, new shared spaces, and future tenants.

The Curve IT Approach

Rather than being bought in after architectural decisions were made, Curve IT worked as an embedded partner from the earliest design stages, collaborating closely with Lazari, MoreySmith, Vert Projects, Faithdean PLC and other project teams.

This early involvement meant that the new digital core could be planned alongside the building design, preventing costly retrofits and ensuring that the final result met both the aesthetic and technical requirements.

Our work included:

Planning and Design

Assessing the long-term scope of the redevelopment and defining a structured, scalable cabling and network infrastructure strategy.

Specifying geographically diverse cable paths to eliminate single points of failure and provide flexibility for further phases.

Redesigning the main communications room, removing legacy systems to create a digital hub for the building’s full life cycle.

Specifying enterprise-grade network switches and access points with dual power and 10Gbps network capacity to deliver secure, resilient, high-speed connectivity building-wide.

Consulting with MoreySmith to ensure digital infrastructure could be integrated within the interior redesign.

Infrastructure Delivery

Coordinating with construction teams to align cabling and services installation with build schedules, architectural design and finishes.

Installing the cabling network throughout the reception and allocated riser routes to support all redevelopment phases.

Deploying new core network equipment in the communications room, capable of maintaining all IP-based building systems and scaling as the building evolves.

Deploying a converged network to keep building systems operational and secure on a single platform.

Implementing high-speed WiFi across the reception and shared areas, with post-installation testing to validate performance against predictive pre-construction models and standards

A Welcome Redefined

The remodelled reception reflects the building’s Brutalist heritage while functioning as a modern, digitally enabled hub.

The reception celebrates the building’s original features, including concrete columns and keyhole-style structural elements. It also introduces marble, timber and metal finishes and bespoke detailing to create a refined, hospitality-inspired space.

The digital core ensures the building can function and grow.

Key outcomes include:

Fully resilient networks ready to support each of the redevelopment phases as they come online without disruption.

A unified network for all building services (security and smart systems) across the site, reducing the need for and cost of multiple vendors, equipment and management tools.

Instant access to 10Gbps connectivity for tenants, removing traditional ISP delays, complex wayleave negotiations and any installation disruption after moving in.

Consistent, high-speed WiFi across the reception and communal areas, enhancing tenant and visitor experience and satisfaction.

A reception that balances heritage, aesthetic design and functionality, contributing to a WiredScore Gold Rating and a BREEAM “Very Good” status for the building.

Active Partnership and Ongoing Support

As Maple House continues to evolve, Curve IT remains an active partner, ensuring the digital infrastructure supports the ongoing redevelopment and complex technical requirements of its prospective tenants.

As Kelly Warrington, Building Manager for Maple House, explains, “what has been especially valuable is Curve IT’s ability to maintain an excellent standard of service through the on-going construction works. They’ve collaborated with Lazari, multiple contractors and wider project team to keep Maple House running smoothly for existing tenants, while also preparing the building for its future amenities, evolving operations and new arrivals.”

This includes University College London (UCL), which signed a 10-year lease for 45,000 sq ft of office space at Maple House and noted that “well-connected office space on Tottenham Court Road is an important part of the UCL Bloomsbury estate”.

The digital core for the building will therefore extend to support the high-end turnkey fit-out for UCL, as well as other incoming tenants by providing robust, resilient digital infrastructure required for modern working environments.

From Foundation to Future

Curve IT designed and delivered the digital core for Maple House as part of its first phase of completed works. The reception integrates the building’s Brutalist heritage with modern infrastructure that supports both current operations and future growth.

The infrastructure is secure, resilient, and scalable. From UCL’s 45,000 sq ft fit-out and The Canopy’s completion in Q4 2026 to future office lettings, the digital infrastructure supports each phase of the redevelopment.

Curve IT continues to support Lazari and project partners through the continued works, ensuring the building remains connected, secure, and ready for its new tenants and amenities.

Want to know more?

Curve IT partners with developers, landlords and architects to integrate scalable digital infrastructure from the earliest design stages, ensuring new and refurbished buildings are ready for their tenants, future uses and long-term performance.

Get in touch with our team to talk about your next project.

The post Building the Digital Core for Maple House appeared first on Curve IT.

Connectivity that continues to evolve: The Brighton Centre

Curve IT — Wed, 28 Jan 2026 12:27:56 +0000

How Strategic IT Infrastructure Transforms Buildings and Protects Long-Term Value: Insights from the Brighton Centre

Connectivity sits at the heart of the modern built environment.

Whether it is a smart building, office space, mixed-use development, or large-scale event venue, developers and asset owners know that tenants, visitors and operators expect fast, reliable digital access from the moment they arrive.

The Brighton Centre demonstrates how long-term thinking, strategic planning and smart design can transform a building’s capabilities. Over the past 15 years, Curve IT has worked closely with the venue to design, deliver and continually evolve its IT infrastructure.

The result is a network that continues to evolve and meet the demands of modern, high-density events right on Brighton’s seafront.

A venue with changing demands

The Brighton Centre hosts some of the UK’s largest conferences and exhibitions, as well as big name music acts, comedy and family shows, and university graduations.

Each event has huge digital demands, and different technical requirements:

Thousands of delegates bring multiple devices that need access to reliable WiFi.
Exhibitors need private, secure and reliable connections for their stands and demos.
Organisers rely on WiFi for presentations, live polling and audience interaction.
Media teams need high-speed wired connections in multiple locations.

With auditoriums, meeting rooms, foyers and exhibition areas often active at the same time, the Centre’s connectivity has never been about a one-off technical installation, but about creating a digital foundation that can adapt for any event at any time.

Connectivity that continues to evolve

Curve IT installed the Centre’s original WiFi network over 15 years ago, when expectations around connectivity were far lower than they are today. Since then, the venue has benefitted from connectivity that continues to evolve, with regular reviews, expansions and upgrades to match new technologies and user expectations.

Key aspects of the network’s evolution include:

Multiplying access points to improve coverage and handle greater demands without comprising performance.
Upgrading legacy hardware to an enterprise-grade Ruckus platform for reliability in high density spaces and stability during peak demands.
Regularly conducting wireless scans to identify and address any changes in performance, particularly before major events.

Flexibility at its core

One of the most valuable parts of the Brighton Centre’s connectivity is that it has been designed with flexibility at its core. Strategically placed network distribution points also allow wired and wireless connectivity to be delivered wherever and whenever it is required:

Organisers can operate on secure WiFi networks for internal workflows and systems.
Exhibitors can use private wired connections for their stands and demos.
Media teams can use dedicated feeds at specific speeds in different locations.
Visitors can use public WiFi without compromising network performance.

As Ian Hardy, Building Manager of the Brighton Centre, notes “the infrastructure we have developed in conjunction with Curve IT has been a complete game changer for the venue.

Without Curve IT’s support, we would not have been able to keep pace with increasing bandwidth demands, fibre upgrades and the day-to-day needs of a large live venue, and this would have had a huge adverse impact on business.

Instead, we are able to provide reliable connectivity to everyday visitors, exhibitors and organisers, and we have been one of the first conference venues to provide free delegate WiFi”.

For large-scale events, the Centre can also deliver fully bespoke connectivity setups in line with detailed technical specifications, and on-site technical support. This has involved repositioning access points, installing additional hardware, and deploying multiple engineers to actively monitor the network, perform scans and resolve issues before they impact users during events.

What this means for commercial properties

Although the Brighton Centre is a live event venue, commercial offices, mixed-use developments and multi-tenant properties face similar challenges:

High-density footfall as people move through the building at different times of the day.
Fast, reliable WiFi expectations from tenants and visitors in receptions, meeting rooms and shared areas.
Reliance on secure networks supporting access systems, CCTV, BMS and day-to-day operations.
Use and behaviour patterns changing, with hybrid working, flexible tenancies and evolving building use becoming the norm.

Coupled with new, emerging technologies, these challenges can place considerable pressure on a building’s digital infrastructure.

This is why digital infrastructure should be considered early with longevity in mind. By planning for flexibility, capacity growth and future upgrades from the outset, developers can avoid disruptive, reactive or costly overhauls, and create a foundation that can evolve alongside the building itself.

Digital infrastructure should also be proactively managed to protect long-term value. A resilient, well managed network can attract and retain tenants, reduce operational risk, support changing building uses, and protect long-term asset value.

Final insights: IT infrastructure that lasts

The Brighton Centre is a powerful example of what can be achieved when digital infrastructure is treated as a long-term asset rather than a short-term installation. It shows how a network designed to evolve can successfully support thousands of devices, multiple user groups and complex operational requirements year after year.

The same thinking should be applied to commercial properties of all sizes. Buildings designed with flexible, resilient connectivity that continues to evolve are better placed to respond to changing tenant needs, new working patterns and future technologies.

Investing in IT infrastructure is not simply a technical decision. It is a strategic one. When integrated in early design stages, it can underpin better tenant experiences, support smooth, smart operations and protect a building’s reputation today and in the future.

Want to know more?

Curve IT consults with developers, architects and contractors to deliver resilient, future-ready digital infrastructure that protects long-term building value. Get in touch with our team to talk about your next project.

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Delivering the digital backbone for The Lantern

Curve IT — Mon, 24 Nov 2025 16:31:36 +0000

The Lantern is a BCO award-winning redevelopment that redefines how sustainable, connected and innovative a building can be.

The Project

Formerly known as Stephenson House, a 1960s office block, the building was reimagined by Lazari Investments as a modern, low-carbon, mixed-use hub.

Completed in 2022, the project retained approximately 33% of the building’s original structure, while adding 46% new space within strict height limits, recycled 98% of construction waste and achieved BREEAM Excellent certification.

The 181,000 sq ft, seven-storey development now features daylight-filled workspaces, sustainably sourced timber finishes, enhanced roof terraces, a ‘forest floor’ atrium, and integrated smart building systems including smart facades, efficient lighting and reclaimed waste heat.

The Challenge

Creating an environment that champions wellbeing and sustainability, while also being able to attract and retain premium technology tenants required more than just standard building infrastructure.

Lazari needed a digital backbone that could:

Support complex connectivity demands without lengthy ISP installation delays.
Provide immediate, high-speed services to new tenants moving in throughout the building’s phased completion.
Integrate building management systems on a secure network.
Maintain the building’s nature-focused aesthetic by fitting with architectural designs.
Future-proof the building against changing tenant requirements and technology standards.

The Curve IT Approach

Curve IT worked as an embedded partner alongside Marks Barfield Architects and 8Build to design and deliver an end-to-end digital backbone from the ground up. This included:

Planning & Design

Planning the right foundations with passive fibre and copper cabling infrastructure capable of delivering 10Gbps service speeds.
Using specialist software to model predicted WiFi coverage across landlord areas prior to any construction.
Specifying geographically diverse cable paths up to each tenant space, protecting against single points of failure.
Designing a converged network to support building services such as CCTV, access control and BMS.
Segregating building services into secure virtual networks, providing safe service access to staff and building managers.

Infrastructure Delivery

Installing multiple communication rooms (one main and two secondary) for efficient, uninterrupted connectivity across the seven-storey building.
Installing high-speed wireless networks across all landlord areas, including the reception, atrium, lift lobbies and basement.
Deploying the converged network for the building systems, keeping them operational and secure.
Validating WiFi networks post-construction to ensure real-world performance matched predictive models and design standards.

Connected and Future-Ready

The Lantern’s digital infrastructure allows it to function as a true smart building because it is able to connect, perform and adapt every day.

Key outcomes include:

Fully resilient networks across the building that are protected against any single points of failure.
A unified network that supports building services securely across the site.
Consistent, high-speed WiFi coverage across all shared and landlord areas, which is continually monitored and validated for performance.
Rapid tenant onboarding with 10Gbps service that can be delivered within 48 hours, eliminating traditional ISP delays and wayleave agreements.

The Lantern, now fully let, supports a mix of premium technological tenants, including Tripledot Studios, Bauer Media, Zenimax, Siemens, and Fujitsu to name a few. Curve IT continues to work alongside Lazari as an active partner, providing direct support for building management and tenant technical requirements.

Katherine Cherry, Building Manager of The Lantern, noted “We have a number of tenants with highly complex tech requirements in the building, and it has never been easier to get them up and running. Curve IT has made the onboarding process effortless. New tenants are connected and operational with no delay or disruption – it is business as usual from day one. That is something that can be hard to come by when undergoing a business move”.

Beyond the Build

The Lantern demonstrates what’s possible when digital infrastructure is treated as a strategic asset instead of an afterthought. From the earliest design stages, Curve IT considered every technological detail to help create a building that stays connected, secure and adaptable as its tenants needs grow and evolve.

The result is a resilient digital backbone that supports sustainability goals and technological innovation, and the landmark set a new standard for low-carbon mixed-use developments in London’s commercial landscape.

Want to know more?

Curve IT consults with developers, architects and contractors to deliver buildings that are connected and operationally ready from day one. Get in touch with our team to talk about your next project.

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IT Systems Upgrade

wandcadmin — Thu, 09 Jan 2020 09:29:12 +0000

TCMM Shutter Group are an industry leader in window covering brands including Shutterly Fabulous, California Shutters and The Shutter Store. They have offices in the UK and the USA.

TCMM Shutter Group are growing fast and have ambitious business plans for the next few years. Due to the company’s expansion and their requirement for more office space, they have purchased the unit next to their existing one in Shoreham and connected the two. As their IT Support provider we suggested the office extension was the perfect opportunity to perform an IT systems upgrade. We want to ensure that their IT infrastructure is aligned to their strategic plans and future-proofs the business operation.

IT Systems Upgrade

Server Upgrade – we replaced the existing small business server with an HP ProLiant enterprise grade server – which runs the latest 2016 operating system – for greater capacity, flexibility and performance.
Rack Mount System – the increased office space has allowed for a dedicated and secure communications room which our Curve IT team helped to plan and set up. We designed and installed all the equipment within the new rack mount system, which facilitates easier access, improved organisation and better air circulation.
Firewall and Router Upgrade – we replaced the old router with an upgraded SonicWall product which improves security, enhances connectivity and possesses the additional capacity to manage TCMM’s faster internet line.
Network Switch – as the team at TCMM expands further more computer ports will be required. As part of our future-proofing plan, we installed a new network switch for these new ports.
Uninterruptable Power Supply (UPS) – we installed a new UPS that will, in the event of a power outage, keep the servers on line for a period of time. If the power stays down, the UPS will ensure the system safely and carefully shuts down.

Improving Office Connectivity

Faster Internet – with the company growing at a pace, faster and secure internet connectivity was becoming paramount to the daily operation of the business. We co-managed the purchase and install of a faster internet line.
Improved WiFi – Curve IT’s WiFi Design consultant heat-mapped the WiFi signal in the existing and new office spaces. Our recommendation was to install two Ruckus R500 wireless access points to give a high-speed, reliable office WiFi.

Delivery

Minimal Disruption – we dovetailed our installation into TCMM’s construction schedule as they interconnected the existing office space with their new unit next door. We conducted the hardware upgrade installation and configuration on a Friday afternoon to ensure minimal disruption to TCMM’s operation.
Seamless Migration – the server migration means the old and the new servers run concurrently for a period of time to ensure a seamless process. Our monitoring systems allow us to continually check that the migration is proceeding as planned and to quickly rectify any discrepancies before issues occur.
Client Assistance – we liaised with the phone line supplier as their connection feeds into the rack mount system that we were installing. We assisted with the team’s physical office move and hardware set-up to complete the migration.

Find out more about our Business IT Services and IT Support.

To discuss a similar IT systems upgrade for your business, call us on 01273 806220.

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WiFi for ESPID 2016 at The Brighton Centre

wandcadmin — Thu, 09 Jan 2020 09:27:21 +0000

Curve IT are the long-term providers of the IT infrastructure and support for the Brighton Centre, including the provision of free delegate WiFi for all events. In May 2016, ESPID (European Society for Pediatric Infectious Diseases), held their five-day annual conference at the Brighton Centre.

The Brighton Centre is one of the largest purpose built conference and exhibition centres in the South of England. The venue offers clients a professional venue with the capacity to accommodate up to 5,000 delegates. It plays host to all different types of events including party political conferences, medical conventions, Trade Union conferences and graduation balls.

With more than 2,500 delegates attending, the ESPID 2016 event organisers, Kenes International, had some very specific IT requirements in order to optimise the attendees’ experience of the conference. Guaranteed connectivity was critical for the organiser to achieve their target download rate of the ESPID conference app.

The Project

To plan and install enhanced connectivity within the Brighton Centre for the five days of the conference.
To enable fast initial download and subsequent updates of the dedicated ESPID 2016 conference app.
To facilitate faster download speeds of large files relevant to a particular speaker session.
To provide the connectivity for delegates to engage directly with the speaker via the ESPID app and to vote live on particular topics.
In addition, Curve IT were asked to act as on-site IT support for the duration of the conference. We provided tech support at each speaker session and helped delegates with connection and other technical issues.

Increasing the Connectivity Capacity for ESPID 2016

We meticulously planned the number of access points that would be required. This depended on the number of delegates in any location at a particular time. It also depends on the type and age of device that is being connected to the network. Calculating the user behavior is essential to this planning process.
We installed additional access points throughout the building which we completed in a tight timeframe once the previous conference had vacated the Brighton Centre. De-install had to be completed swiftly before the next event at The Brighton Centre.
We established a network monitoring system in order that we could pre-empt any connection issues.
Our team were onsite throughout the five-day conference to assist with any connectivity issues and to assist attending delegates from all over the globe.

Benefits of High-Speed, Dependable Delegate WiFi

Greater download rate of ESPID 2016 app due to high speed WiFi and ease of updates. One delegate exclaimed “the connection is faster than my office WiFi!”
It empowered instantaneous communication between delegates and speakers allowing for debate between delegates with different experiences in their countries of origin.
The live voting system allowed for continuous data gathering on the topics that can be used for research purposes going forward.
At one point we had 2,400 devices simultaneously connected to the WiFi.
The speedy WiFi facilitated increased social media commentary and connections at the Conference.

Our friendly approach combined with our knowledge and expertise means we deliver in thorough IT solutions that have a positive impact on customer satisfaction. To talk to us about WiFi for your organised event, call 01273 806220.

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Temporary WiFi network for Brighton Pride

wandcadmin — Thu, 09 Jan 2020 09:26:20 +0000

Since 2015, Curve IT has provided the WiFi connectivity for Brighton Pride, widely regarded as the UK’s biggest and best Pride festival. Having a guaranteed temporary WiFi network and reliable connectivity is critical at the event for the organiser’s payment processing and for their continuous site-wide communications.

Held annually over the first weekend of August, the spectacularly colourful Pride Community Parade kicks things off. Other events include the Pride Village Party in Kemptown, Pride Dog Show and Brighton Pride Festival in Preston Park. In total, Brighton Pride attracts over 100,000 visitors across the weekend.

The Project

Curve IT’s remit in 2015 was to provide connectivity throughout the outdoor event via a temporary WiFi installation for:

Main box office – for card ticket sales paid by card through 18+ till points, ensuring PCI compliance (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard).
Entry Gate – live entry scanning system for pre-purchased tickets and to monitor exit and re-entry.
Bars – PCI compliant card payments at the 10+ on-site bars.
Essential Communications – the WiFi supplies site-wide connectivity to the internet for the Organisers, Media and Emergency Services. The mobile phone signal often crashes during the event because of the heightened demand, so guaranteed WiFi to provide the communication channel is vital to the organisers, the media and the Emergency Services.
VIP’s – for communication on site and on social media channels.

The remit in 2016 was expanded to include a temporary WiFi network to the new Pride Pleasure Gardens – a combination of venues, bars and food stalls located in further sites including Victoria Gardens and the Old Steine Gardens.

Connecting Brighton Pride

The ticketed Pride Festival site is located in Preston Park, Brighton. It presents plenty of challenges for WiFi coverage; it is approximately 600m in length by 300m wide; contains lots of large trees, stages, funfairs plus food and drink stalls. And in excess of 45,000 people! Cabling is difficult so the connectivity must be predominantly through WiFi.
For Curve IT, connecting Brighton Pride Festival requires meticulous planning which we start months before the event. However, the lead time of the install is very tight, as we can only get onto the site three days before Pride takes place. When the party is in full swing, we operate a 24 hour service, ensuring that the WiFi is fully functioning all the time. We extract the system in just four hours when the Festival finishes. On the day of the Festival our team walk approximately 25km each!
We launch leased line capacity onto the festival site and redistribute to each of the 20+ Ruckus Access Points. This provides high-speed WiFi throughout the site with speeds up to 100mb.
Curve IT established connectivity to the additional sites for Pride Pleasure Gardens to deliver WiFi to an additional Pride Box Office, four more bars and to enable all the Pride Team to remain in continuous communication across the multiple sites.

Temporary WiFi Network Benefits

It enables an essential communication method among the organising team during the build and the event when the mobile phone signal is unreliable.
The temporary WiFi network provides a live ticketing system for card payments and for registering entry and exit which eliminates fraudulent ticket activity.
Connectivity allows for card payments, including American Express, at the 10+ on-site bars. This is far more convenient for customers than carrying a lot of cash and leads to increased bar revenues.
It facilitates live communications for the attending media and VIPs to broadcast and publicise the event.
The WiFi facilitates live communications with all Emergency Services who are constantly monitoring Pride Festival in readiness to respond. They can also access procedure documents from the Cloud.

We’re very proud to be a part of such an event as Brighton Pride. Our friendly approach combined with our knowledge and expertise means we deliver intelligent IT solutions that have a positive impact on revenues and efficiency. To talk to us about WiFi for your event, call 01273 806220.

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Technology Partner to British Airways i360

wandcadmin — Thu, 09 Jan 2020 09:24:54 +0000

British Airways i360 is the world’s tallest moving observation tower, located in Brighton, conceived and designed by Marks Barfield Architects. The visitor attraction launched in August 2016 attracting international media attention and visitors from all over the world.

The fully enclosed glass viewing pod glides up the slim tower to 138m, from where you can see stunning 360° views of Brighton, the South Downs, all along the South Coast and out to the English Channel. The visitor attraction also features two reproduction tollbooths dating from the original West Pier development in 1866; extensive event spaces; a shop and a beachside restaurant.

As a new construction project, British Airways i360 had extensive IT infrastructure requirements to be planned, designed, developed and installed to tight deadlines and budget. These included WiFi connectivity across the site and into the pod at 138 metres high! It also included the IT network set-up for the back office, the technical engineers, the event spaces and the restaurant.

IT Strategy

To design and deploy the full IT infrastructure – including the main communications room – for the visitor attraction, guaranteeing that everything was designed to the very specific architectural vision.
To deliver high-speed, building-wide, reliable and secure network connectivity to visitors, conference delegates and the operations team.
To provide WiFi connectivity for visitors and operations within the giant glass viewing pod from sea level all the way up to 138m high in the sky.

Project Management

We worked closely with Marks Barfield Architects and the British Airways i360 operating team in the construction phases advising on design, procurement and installation of all the IT infrastructure.
Throughout the project we collaborated with the main building contractor, the electrical contractor, CCTV supplier, ticketing system provider and other third party contractors to ensure that the IT infrastructure was aligned to optimise the building and operation management systems.
At the start of our involvement in the project our consultants were involved in regular construction meetings. As the British Airways i360 approached opening our consultants and technical team were on site throughout, installing and configuring all aspects of the IT infrastructure to meet the launch deadline.

Planning

Our team of consultants reviewed the client brief, architectural drawings, Mechanical and Electrical service proposals. Fully immersing ourselves in the build enabled us to highlight risks and constraints to IT delivery.
We collaborated with architects, contractors and the operational management team to ensure IT requirements across all areas would be delivered.
We helped advise on the selection of suitable connectivity into the building, facilitating the installation of the circuit in parallel with construction.

Design

Our consultants architected the complete IT infrastructure designed to deliver upon the client’s requirements.
We included security by design, including hardware and software that protects the client’s and the public’s data.
A pre-build WiFi survey was completed using CAD architectural drawings and the latest technology. This enabled us to create a virtual model of the planned network, ensuring WiFi access points were placed efficiently to maximise coverage, reduce ‘black spots’ and minimise costs.
We designed the main communications room for the building; we provided detailed drawings to ensure equipment fitted properly; that suitable power was provided; and we facilitated connectivity into the building.
Our team identified enterprise grade equipment in line with the client’s budget securing a great feature set and good warranty level.
We designed the office network and physical space for cabling and power specification.

Delivery

We supplied both hardware and software required for the IT Infrastructure including the data cabinets, power distribution units, networking equipment, server equipment, patch cables etc.
We provided payment gateways and CCTV links.
We installed and configured the WiFi network across the site including in the shop, restaurants, event spaces and the back office.
We devised and tested the methodology for the WiFi radio link installation in the glass viewing pod to reach 138m high.
We installed and configured IPTV across the network for several TVs throughout the building.
We sourced and installed all IT equipment and VOIP telephone system for the office team.
British Airways i360 is now being supported by the Curve IT Support Helpdesk through a managed service contract. This enables us to support the Operational Management team and manage the network proactively through our monitoring and alerting system.

Benefits

Visitors to British Airways i360 received high-speed and reliable WiFi throughout the building and in the pod from the day it opened. This enables visitors to connect to the WiFi to share their experience of the attraction in real-time on social media.
Providing free WiFi in the restaurant and café is known to increase customer dwell time and therefore provides further opportunity to increase revenues.
Partitioned WiFi for the event spaces allows for bespoke IT delivery to conference and event clients.
WiFi in the glass viewing pod enables PCI compliant card payments at the Nyetimber Sky Bar.
Our IT Consultants were brought into the project half-way through the two-year construction period. Although this is relatively far into the RIBA Plan of Work* stages, we were quickly able to identify the necessary IT Infrastructure and help to shape the technology within the building to meet the client’s vision. We influenced changes to the building during construction saving on post-launch retrospective IT installation costs.
Our WiFi design practice ensures optimal wireless network design typically delivering better connectivity and significant cost savings by avoiding over-scoping on hardware.

*The RIBA Plan of Work 2013 (devised by the Royal Institute of British Architects) organises the process of briefing, designing, constructing, maintaining, operating and using building projects into a key number of stages.

We are very proud to be the technology partner to British Airways i360 providing them with an on-going fully managed IT service and IT support.

Download a copy Curve IT Case Study: British Airways i360

“From the very beginning, Simon and his team prided themselves not only getting the job done quickly and to the highest possible standards, but also on their strict lack of unnecessaries. This meant no pointless paperwork, no deliberate confounding of the client with industry gobbledegook and absolutely, positively no wasted time.”

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Keeping The Brighton Centre Connected

wandcadmin — Wed, 11 Dec 2019 16:36:44 +0000

The Brighton Centre is one of the largest conference and event spaces in the UK, and the largest of its kind in the South. With a capacity to house over 5,000, the space is recognisable as the home of political party conferences, the last of which was the Labour Party Conference, which was last held there in autumn 2019, as well as being a popular venue for exhibitions, often held across multiple floors, and live music performances, with the centre hosting the likes of Noel Gallagher, Paloma Faith and Emilie Sande in 2018 alone.

As such an integral part of Brighton’s political, entertainment and business sectors, it is a vital need that connectivity and WiFi coverage is not only reliable, but extensive across the entire building.

The centre is owned and run solely by Brighton & Hove City Council, and it is estimated that it generates over £50 million annually for the city.

Connectivity Challenges

Any event space thrives on a strong connectivity and WiFi network, but when you couple those needs with a venue that is consistently hosting high-profile events with several thousand visitors, it becomes a necessity.

When it came to connectivity, one of the main issues The Brighton Centre struggled with is the building itself. As it was built in the 1960s, it was not built with WiFi in mind, and there are many thick walls and expanses of steel that hinder connectivity. This is particularly challenging during exhibitions or conferences, when activity can take place across multiple rooms and different levels.

The team at the centre were getting increasingly frustrated at the rate of the network ‘dropping out’ and the frequency of WiFi blackspots throughout the vast building. With events like party conferences on the centre’s calendar, it became vital that they found a solution that was reliable, consistent and adaptable to the venue’s needs.

As the requirement of delegates increased, with many users looking to access the network to use social media and stream content live, the WiFi system became more and more unstable, and after a nearly disastrous event the Business Manager enlisted the help of Curve IT, who were on site within 30 minutes, armed with quick fixes, before eventually taking over the network. A big issue the existing network had was the fact that several companies had been involved in the set up and maintenance which meant it had become complex and at times confusing, impacting its overall performance.

A Robust Wifi Solution

From the initial conversations, The Brighton Centre knew that they needed a solution that was wide-reaching, reliable and also scalable, due to the variety and ever-changing nature of the events held at the venue.

After surveying the structure, it was clear that several parts of the building were hindering the smooth connection for staff, visitors and delegates. Due to the amount of thick walls and steel, receivers had to be placed in strategic positions across the building in order for a seamless connection. Several areas proved to be trickier due to the thickness of the walls, including the entrances into the main space, as the thickness is around three feet.

Using the gigabit leased line broadband connection into the building, Curve helped the centre implement a full network overhaul, which involved both the hardware and software needed to deliver the desired IT infrastructure. The Brighton Centre swapped the ageing Cisco system for a more advanced network using high grade equipment provided by Ruckus. This high-end network equipment is designed to deliver robust and reliable connectivity in professional environments and also enables the network to be adaptable and scalable for the centre’s needs. For example, for The Labour Party Conference 2019, the centre added additional receivers and bandwidth, in order to accommodate the large number of delegates, who all required high-speed, consistent connectivity.

Another important element that the team were able to address was the probability of a broadband outage. This can happen for any number of reasons, and can be incredibly frustrating and damaging, especially to a venue like the Brighton Centre. Thus having just a mainline connection into the building was not enough. In order to offset any disruption caused by broadband outages, Curve installed a back-up point-to-point network, which was linked to the Brighton Centre via a receiver dish on the roof of the building. This is designed to act as a fall back network, meaning that the venue will never be without a high-speed, consistent internet connection.

A Connectivity Revolution

The Brighton Centre noticed an immediate change in WiFi connectivity and networking speed, with areas that used to be blackspots receiving full coverage. Staff, delegates and regular visitors have noticed a huge increase in connectivity availability and reliability, which was previously unheard of, especially in the main venue hall. This included the centre’s WiFi receiving particular praise from Sky News’s Adam Boulton during one of the recent party conferences.

This connectivity is also matched in other areas of the building, something which is particularly useful during exhibitions that can take place across several floors, with devices connecting automatically to the nearest WiFi hotspot.

Speaking about the development of the network, Ian Hardy, the current buildings manager for Brighton Centre, said: “The new network has revolutionised the way we do things at The Brighton Centre, and has no doubt contributed to the success of the venue in recent years.”

“Because of the age and size of the building, a decent network always seemed like a pipedream, but since we’ve had the improved network technology in place, we have had virtually no issues.”

The post Keeping The Brighton Centre Connected appeared first on Curve IT.

WiFi Marketing at Brighton Spiegeltent

wandcadmin — Wed, 04 Dec 2019 13:51:22 +0000

Our WiFi Marketing Services can increase revenues, provide real-time updates and interaction, give valuable customer insights, encourage social engagement and improve overall user experience. WiFi marketing can produce measurable and valuable returns on your investment and gives your customers expected WiFi connection and more.

We deployed WiFi Marketing at Brighton Spiegeltent for the month of the Brighton Fringe Festival in addition to the WiFi connection.

WiFi Marketing Portal

Firstly we installed reliable and high speed WiFi for internet connectivity, giving different access to various user groups i.e. operations team and visitors had separate access.

We designed, implemented and tested a fully responsive Brighton Spiegeltent 2017 branded portal. The portal featured direct links to the Spiegeltent booking website, plus links to their Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages.

There are several food outlets within the Spiegeltent site, so direct links were added to the portal to the various menus meaning visitors could browse the menu at leisure before purchasing.

Advertising

We featured a total of fifteen adverts scheduled on a granular level, by day and time. The adverts promoted a variety of shows performing at Brighton Spiegeltent. These five second adverts are ‘pushed’ to the visitors device before they can gain access to the WiFi.

Data Capture

Facebook and email were the selected authentication methods for visitors to log on to Brighton Spiegeltent Free WiFi. Facebook authentication captures the visitor’s email address, name, gender and age. Once the visitor has authenticated via Facebook they are automatically dropped to Spiegeltent’s Facebook page which increased their page ‘likes’ and check-ins.

Email authentication added the email addresses of thousands of highly-engaged visitors to Brighton Spiegeltent’s database.

WiFi Authentication also provides the opportunity for a user survey, from which name, age, gender, product / service commentary can be captured.

Reporting and Analysis

We were able to provide our client with live reporting and a full post-event analysis. We reported on users per hour, per day, by device, gender and age. User surveys provide an even greater opportunity for data analysis.

This analysis leads to enhanced targeted advertising and customer engagement through the WiFi.

The post WiFi Marketing at Brighton Spiegeltent appeared first on Curve IT.

IT Infrastructure for Residential Build: Esssential Living’s Dressage Court

wandcadmin — Mon, 02 Dec 2019 12:45:48 +0000

Essential Living design, construct and operate residential properties for the premium, rental market. They create vibrant developments that prioritise quality and harness a sense of community by creating unique social spaces; exercise areas, study areas, lounges, games rooms and chill-out areas as well as shared outdoor spaces.

Providing high-speed internet access, including carefully designed WiFi coverage and a high quality branded portal page, is considered a given in this market – residents won’t settle for anything less.

Essential Living’s brand and their developments demand an IT infrastructure for residential build which reflects the organisation’s forward-thinking attitude and values. They, and us, advocate moving away from the traditional siloed approach to building systems (WiFi, IP Telephony, CCTV, Door Access etc.) and instead to integrate many of these systems into a single building network. This saves duplication of cost both during construction and ongoing, while creating an IT Infrastructure ready to respond to technology changes throughout the lifespan of the building.

Curve IT are thrilled to be working with Essential Living on their programme of developments. The flag-ship new-build Dressage Court, located in Bethnal Green, London, opened last month (May 2017). Read on to find out how we worked with them to deliver the IT infrastructure required to support their residents – to the timescales, budget and quality standards they required.

Essential Living’s IT Strategy

The IT infrastructure for residential build to reflect the Essential Living brand values – professional service, high quality, convenience, reliability and longevity.
To adopt a visionary approach to IT infrastructure that encompasses multiple building management services.
To deliver high-speed, building-wide, reliable and secure network connectivity to residents and the Essential Living Operational Management team. Residents should connect quickly and easily to their own network wherever they are in the property.
To implement a consistent ‘brand’ IT strategy across their programme of developments.

Project Management

Essential Living use the RIBA Plan of Work* methodology throughout their design and construction process. The RIBA Plan of Work 2013 (devised by the Royal Institute of British Architects) organises the process of briefing, designing, constructing, maintaining, operating and using building projects into a number of key stages. It details the tasks and outputs required at each stage which may vary or overlap to suit specific project requirements.
We worked to these RIBA stages during the project, ensuring our deliverables were fully aligned with those of the client.

Planning

Our team of consultants reviewed the client brief, architectural drawings, M&E and service proposals. Fully immersing ourselves in the build enabled us to highlight risks and constraints to IT delivery.
We collaborated with architects, contractors and the Operational Management team to ensure IT requirements across all areas would be delivered.
We conducted a mobile scan at the Dressage Court site, reporting on reception from the main Mobile Network Operators (MNOs).
We helped advise on the selection of suitable connectivity into the building, facilitating the installation of the circuit in parallel with construction.

Design

Our consultants architected a building network designed to deliver upon Essential Living’s objectives.
We included security by design, including hardware and software that protects the client’s and the resident’s data.
We considered resilience within the design and liaised with the M&E team to identify the right strategy to provide backup in the event of power failure.
A pre-build WiFi survey was completed using CAD architectural drawings and the latest technology. This enabled us to create a virtual model of the planned network, ensuring WiFi access points were placed efficiently to both maximise coverage, reduce ‘black spots’ and minimise costs.
We helped design the main comms room for the building; we provided detailed drawings to ensure equipment fitted properly; that suitable power was provided; and we facilitated connectivity into the building.
Our team identified enterprise grade equipment in line with the client’s budget securing a great feature set and good warranty level.

Delivery

We supplied both hardware and software required to deliver the IT Infrastructure for residential build including data cabinets, power distribution units, networking equipment, server equipment, patch cables etc. Our purchasing power ensures a competitive price point.
Our team installed and configured the building communications room*, coordinating the installation of the leased line and ensuring connectivity for ‘live date’.
We installed and configured WiFi access points and networking equipment in the residents’ apartments and communal areas, working in collaboration with the M&E contractors and cablers.
We fully tested installation both on-site and off-site using our pro-active managed service.
A post build WiFi survey was completed, providing confirmation of the coverage our design delivers.
We supported the Operations Management team in ensuring that residents could use the system from day one.
Dressage Court is now being supported by the Curve IT Support Helpdesk through a managed serviced contract. This enables us to support the Operational Management team and manage the network proactively through our monitoring and alerting system.

*Our team hold valid CSCS cards and have completed the CITB Site Supervisors’ Safety Training Scheme (SSSTS)

Benefits

Residents received high-speed internet access with great WiFi coverage and a high quality branded portal page, both in their apartment and throughout the building, from the day they moved in.
Our early involvement in the planning stage saved considerable capital expenditure later in the build. Advising on a better model for IT Infrastructure for residential build helped eliminate duplication of cost.
Our knowledge of the build and other service requirements enabled us to identify risks and constraints to delivery of an integrated network.
Our WiFi design practice ensures optimal wireless network design typically delivering better connectivity and significant cost savings by avoiding over-scoping on hardware.
Planning from the outset of construction also ensures time efficiencies within the building schedule for the technological install. We dovetail our installation into the other service installation schedules.

Download a copy Curve IT Case Study: Essential Living Dressage Court

To talk to one of our expert IT consultants regarding our WiFi design practice and IT infrastructure for your construction or development project please call 01273 806220.

The post IT Infrastructure for Residential Build: Esssential Living’s Dressage Court appeared first on Curve IT.