01 Headquarters · London
150 Holborn
A secure, scalable and flexible network for Sidara’s Living Lab, where the building’s own data shapes how it runs.
- 11 global brands
- 18,000+ industry visitors a year
- Digital twin
60,000 data points every 5 minutes
Smart Buildings
Smart buildings start with one converged network.
We build secure, converged networks for smart buildings, connecting everything from lights and lifts to the building management system and Internet of Things (IoT) devices. We have built the networks for 60+ smart buildings across Europe, including Battersea Power Station, 150 Holborn, 22 Bishopsgate, Co-op Live and Saint Marina Hospital.
We advise, we build and we run each network, 24/7/365.
In focus
Enlayer UK: Cisco Smart Building / Venue Partner of the Year, two years in a row
Cisco partner award · UK and Ireland
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- 60+smart buildings across Europe
- 23,500Wi-Fi users at onceCo-op Live
- 26miles of cable22 Bishopsgate
- 82,000fans on one networkTwickenham Stadium
- 24/7/365support after handover
Client film / 150 Holborn
See one network at work.
A secure, scalable and flexible Converged Network System (CNS) for Sidara’s Living Lab at 150 Holborn. Sidara’s team tell the story in their own words.
It starts with the IT network or the CNS, it’s what links everything together, it’s the transport layer for all the information.
- 60,000data points every 5 minutes
- 11global brands under one roof
- PlatinumWiredScore rating
01 / The buildings
Some of the buildings that run on our networks.
We have designed and delivered Converged Network Systems and advanced Wi-Fi for smart buildings across the public and private sectors, from offices and mixed-use developments to hospitals, stadiums and logistics sites. We support each project at every stage, whether we work within a construction programme or directly for the client.
From the outset, we align the CNS with the building’s vision. We challenge assumptions, maximise network capability, test every integration before deployment and support commissioning on site, so the building opens on a secure, resilient network.
The buildings behind the numbers
02 Commercial tower · City of London
22 Bishopsgate
We designed, delivered and support the network for a landmark building in the City of London.
- 2,500 outlets
- 32,000 data points / 15 min
- 25 global businesses, 12,000 workers
26 miles of cable
03 Mixed-use development, Phase 1 · London
Battersea Power Station
Phase 1 with Skanska: a 10-gigabit converged network for homes, shops, offices and restaurants.
- Built with Skanska
- Wi-Fi to the riverside jetty
- 10-gigabit network
864 apartments in Phase 1
04 Stadium · London
Twickenham Stadium
Where our smart building work began: one converged network for 24/7 operations, from quiet days to full matchdays.
- 4,000+ ports
- Stadium of the Year
- Built for the 2015 Rugby World Cup
82,000 fans on matchday
05 Arena · Manchester
Co-op Live
High-density Wi-Fi for 23,500 people who arrive, connect and go online at the same moment, on one network with 40+ building systems.
- 5,000 ports
- 40+ integrated building systems
- High-density, burst-demand Wi-Fi
23,500 Wi-Fi users at once
06 Hospital · Pleven, Bulgaria
Saint Marina Hospital
One network for the scanners, the operating theatres and the terminal at every bed.
- Imaging
- Bedside terminals
- Hospital information system
9 hospital systems, one network
02 / One network
One network, the foundation for smart buildings.
The Converged Network System (CNS) is the backbone of a smart building: one secure network across the building that connects information technology (IT), operational technology (OT) and the Internet of Things (IoT), from heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) and lighting to lifts and escalators, closed-circuit television (CCTV), intercoms and access control, energy management, advanced Wi-Fi and the devices people use.
01
Building data comes together in one place.
Investors, asset managers and building teams rely on connected systems to make informed decisions, support service charge pricing and get the most value from shared spaces. At 150 Holborn, 60,000 data points every 5 minutes feed real-time decisions on comfort, security and energy, and the analysis and automation behind them keep tuning how the building runs.
02
Every system in its own secure lane.
One network, not one open door. Each tenant and each system keeps to its own lane, so none gets in the others’ way. At 150 Holborn, each Sidara company runs on its own network with its own sign-in, and still shares the building’s connectivity. At Twickenham, segmentation and network access control make it simple and secure to bring event organisers and exhibitors onto the network. And at Saint Marina Hospital, nine systems share one network.
03
Every supplier’s needs, on one secure network.
Every supplier’s system has its own needs. We understand them, then integrate them into one secure network and manage that network. And when what a smart building needs does not exist yet, our Advanced OT Solutions practice works alongside the suppliers to build it and connect it.
04
Smart Wi-Fi.
Wi-Fi is no longer just coverage and signal strength: it is part of the smart building experience. Today’s wireless network has to deliver high-density performance, fast onboarding at scale, location services, space analytics, IoT connectivity, resilience and strong security. We give your building the coverage, capacity, features and security it needs, from consultancy through to live operations.
03 / Advise, build, run
We advise, we build, and we run it.
A network for a new building is not an office network fitted later. It is planned with the architects, built on site between the other trades, and run from the day the doors open. One team does all three, and we contract the way your project needs: with you directly, under your main contractor or within the mechanical and electrical package.
- 01
Advise
Our architects help you turn your vision into clear network and security requirements, and define the functional, performance and security standards that partner systems should meet to get the most from your connectivity. We then develop your CNS design with you and your construction partners, from cabling and access point positions to secure partner integrations.
- 02
Build
We stage and test the Converged Network System at our purpose-built facility, invite partners to test their systems and integrations, and finish with end-to-end witness testing for you. We then install on site, coordinate with the other trades’ commissioning, retest and provide early life support.
- 03
Run
After handover, our Smart Managed Services keep your building performing with 24/7/365 support that is agile and responsive, and adapts as the building changes, backed by our network operations centre (NOC) and our security operations centre (SOC), which monitors threats across your IT, OT and IoT estate. Service tiers match what you need, from monitoring and incident management to fully proactive network and security management.
04 / Smart Managed Services
After handover, we keep it running.
Buildings change every day after handover: new tenants, new devices, new demands on the network. Enlayer Smart Managed Services keeps up with the changes, 24/7/365, backed by our own network operations centre (NOC) and security operations centre (SOC) and underpinned by service level agreements, and follows how the building is used by the day, the week and the season.
- 01Smart Managed NetworkThe network, always on: available, reliable, in step with your building.
- 02Smart Managed IP ServiceEyes on the CNS: connected, reachable, healthy.
- 03Smart Managed CybersecurityOur own NOC and SOC, on guard: 24/7/365.
Managed at scale
For Lufthansa Group, we run 6,200+ network devices every day.
- 3,600+Wi-Fi access points
- 2,600+switches
- 24/7/365monitored from our own network operations centre
05 / Why us
Four reasons to build it with us.
- 01Proven on the buildings that matter.
The names are familiar: 150 Holborn, 22 Bishopsgate, Battersea Power Station, Co-op Live and Twickenham, among 48+ smart buildings across the UK. They set the standard we deliver every day. The same expertise now supports 60+ smart buildings across the UK, Bulgaria, Croatia and North Macedonia.
- 02Award-winning expertise, independent advice.
Named Cisco Smart Building / Venue Partner of the Year for the UK and Ireland two years in a row, and supported by a network of leading technology vendors. We understand your business outcomes and our recommendations are driven by performance and value.
- 03One partner, accountable end to end.
From strategy and design to deployment and day-to-day operations, we advise, build and run the network for its whole life. Our own operations centres in Sofia monitor and support every environment 24/7/365, so you have one partner accountable for the network, end to end.
- 04On time, every time.
We have never missed a Practical Completion date. We design, build and fully test the network off site before deployment, which cuts the work on site, lowers the risk to your programme and keeps critical milestones on track. When opening day arrives, your network is ready too.
Our partners
Our clients
Talk to us
A free one-hour smart discovery session.
One floor, a fit-out, a venue or an entire estate, new or existing. In a free one-hour discovery session we explore your goals and challenges. Our Smart Readiness process then takes you from vision to proof of concept, and on to a fully working system.
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01 Headquarters · London
150 Holborn
A secure, scalable and flexible network for Sidara’s Living Lab, where the building’s own data shapes how it runs.
- 60,000data points every 5 minutes
- 11global brands under one roof
- 18,000+industry visitors a year
The brief
- A building of the future that showcases what Sidara’s member companies can do and pushes the boundaries of what a smart building can deliver.
- A highly adaptable building that works as a Living Lab, collecting and analysing data to automate tasks that optimise operations, energy efficiency and sustainability.
- An open space where the member companies work together without physical boundaries, with secure information technology (IT) boundaries for each of them.
What we did
- Working closely with Sidara, we designed the shell and core and the fit-out network at the same time, so the building’s operational and occupant systems are fully integrated.
- One network for Wi-Fi, audio-visual (AV) and meeting rooms, in-building mobile signal, the building management system (BMS), heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), access control, closed-circuit television (CCTV) and energy.
- Built on Cisco networking, wireless and security, the Converged Network System (CNS) is a secure network for many tenants: each Sidara company runs independently, with its own network and sign-in, and still shares the connectivity, Wi-Fi and common facilities.
The result
- Delivered on time and to budget, the CNS connects 150 Holborn end to end and can adapt and change with the building.
- With the building’s data in view, Sidara makes informed decisions, day by day, on how it is operated and managed. It is a modern, sustainable and inspiring place to work, where the member companies think creatively and work together.
- Awarded WiredScore Platinum, the highest rating for the quality of a building’s wired infrastructure, resilience and wireless network.
- 150 Holborn shows how we work in partnership: with Cisco, Schneider Electric and Para, one team for the network, the building systems and the data.
- We remain a strategic partner to 150 Holborn, delivering managed services.
Ideal’s truly end-to-end converged network solution is critical to ensuring our building is futureproofed, scalable and secure in an ever-evolving world.
Planning a building like this?
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02 Commercial tower · City of London
22 Bishopsgate
We designed, delivered and support the network for a landmark building in the City of London.
- 26miles of cable
- 2,500outlets
- 32,000data points every 15 minutes
The brief
- A landmark smart building and destination in the heart of the City of London.
- Building services, including the building management system (BMS), working together over one secure, resilient network.
- A flexible foundation for future innovation, automation, sustainability and a better experience for occupiers.
- A long-term partner to support the building beyond construction and throughout its life.
What we did
- We delivered the Converged Network System (CNS), the digital backbone of 22 Bishopsgate: 26 miles of cable and 2,500 outlets.
- We aligned the network design with the building’s smart vision.
- We brought the building systems together on one secure, converged network.
- We built a resilient architecture with no single point of failure.
- We deployed 730+ wireless access points.
- We supported a smooth handover into operations.
- We provide managed services and engineers on site.
The result
- One secure, centrally managed network for building and occupier services, which makes the building simpler to run.
- A platform that grows with tenants’ needs, new technology and new smart building ideas.
- Connected systems capture and analyse 32,000 data points every 15 minutes, for better decisions based on data.
- It supports 22 Bishopsgate’s goals for its occupiers’ experience, sustainability and smart building management.
- A long-term partnership as part of Team22, improving and evolving the building’s digital infrastructure all the time.
They understand our business, they understand the business of our occupiers, with a willingness to deliver what is a world class service.
Planning a building like this?
03 Mixed-use development, Phase 1 · London
Battersea Power Station
Phase 1 with Skanska: a 10-gigabit converged network for homes, shops, offices and restaurants.
- 864apartments in Phase 1
- 10-gigabitnetwork, up from the 1-gigabit specified
- 24/7managed service after handover
The brief
- Battersea Power Station, a London landmark that stood empty for decades, redeveloped as a new urban village.
- Skanska held the mechanical and electrical contract for the shell, core and fit-out of Phase 1, and needed a proven technology partner to develop and deploy the network.
- A stable, resilient network with real bandwidth for homes, shops and offices, and room to grow.
- Tight dates and budgets, with as few workers on site as possible, to keep the site safe and efficient.
What we did
- We delivered the Converged Network System (CNS), and proposed a 10-gigabit network in place of the 1-gigabit one specified.
- Wi-Fi for residents, workers and the public, out to the riverside jetty for private events, with advanced user authentication and monitoring.
- The network also carries the building management systems: lighting, heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), closed-circuit television (CCTV), door access and even the water fountains.
- We designed and built it at our own headquarters and tested it with the operational technology (OT) partners before installing it on site, for a smooth installation and a safer site.
The result
- A resilient, high-performance network that underpins the core building management functions and gives residents and businesses reliable Wi-Fi.
- A 24/7 managed service, with engineers across disciplines on hand for a rapid response and proactive support, following IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL) practice.
Right from bid stage it was obvious Ideal had the relevant construction network experience. They really understood the pressure facing contractors and showed support right from tender to practical completion.
Planning a building like this?
04 Stadium · London
Twickenham Stadium
Where our smart building work began: one converged network for 24/7 operations, from quiet days to full matchdays.
- 82,000fans on matchdays
- 4,000+ports
- 2015built for the Rugby World Cup
The brief
- A new network for Twickenham Stadium ahead of the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
- Modern technology for a venue that serves 82,000 fans on matchdays, and conference, hospitality, media and corporate facilities all year.
- No network bottlenecks for critical services, including electronic point of sale (EPOS), closed-circuit television (CCTV), internet protocol television (IPTV), lighting and stadium operations.
- Secure, flexible network access for event organisers, exhibitors, corporate users and Rugby Football Union (RFU) staff.
- A platform for innovation, efficient operations and growth, without adding work for the RFU’s information technology (IT) team.
What we did
- We worked closely with the RFU throughout the tender, to understand its operational challenges and the outcomes it wanted.
- We reviewed and refined the original specification to fit how the venue works on matchdays and every other day, and recommended value engineering and technical improvements that added functionality and saved cost.
- We added segmentation and network access control to the design, which improved security and made third-party access simpler.
- We delivered a highly resilient converged network for critical services: EPOS in 31 bars and shops, CCTV, lighting, turnstiles and more than 700 IPTV screens.
- We managed the technology partners to deliver one integrated infrastructure, ready for better service and future innovation.
- We provided early-life support and worked alongside the RFU team throughout the Rugby World Cup.
The result
- Delivered on time and within budget, ahead of the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
- Twickenham hosts major international events with reliable services for spectators, staff and operations teams.
- Better security and network management, through segmentation and access control.
- Less admin for the RFU’s IT team, who can focus on day-to-day work instead of temporary event set-ups.
- Simpler onboarding and management for event and exhibitor services.
- A converged network that supports the stadium’s operational, commercial and innovation plans for years to come.
- A trusted partnership with the RFU, which named our consultative approach and design improvements as key reasons for awarding us the contract.
Planning a venue like this?
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05 Arena · Manchester
Co-op Live
High-density Wi-Fi for 23,500 people who arrive, connect and go online at the same moment, on one network with 40+ building systems.
- 23,500Wi-Fi users at once
- 5,000network ports
- 40+integrated building systems
The brief
- The owners, Oak View Group (OVG), set out to create an outstanding entertainment experience, with visual technology, acoustics, an innovative sound bowl design and advanced high-density Wi-Fi.
- A wired and wireless network that integrates 40+ building systems, from lighting and sound to turnstiles and access control.
- High-density Wi-Fi for up to 23,500 people at once.
- The same experience across 40+ bars, restaurants and concessions on four floors, and support for the Co-op Live app, for a paperless venue.
What we did
- We designed and delivered a 5,000-port Converged Network System (CNS) and high-density Wi-Fi on Cisco Catalyst 9800 architecture and Catalyst 9000 access points: the first UK arena with this technology fully deployed.
- More than 40 Internet Protocol (IP) partners connect to the network, from the building management system (BMS) to beer taps and biometric turnstiles.
- This integration helps OVG run every style and size of event efficiently, from global music stars to intimate stand-up comedy.
- Live data informs management decisions and helps OVG reach its environmental, social and governance (ESG) goals by reducing the arena’s overall environmental impact.
The result
- Co-op Live is the largest, most technologically advanced indoor arena in the UK, and one of the most sustainable in Europe.
- The high-density Wi-Fi and CNS network is delivering an outstanding user-experience, whilst providing vital data to enable Co-op Live to be the most sustainable world-class arena in Europe.
Planning a venue like this?
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06 Hospital · Pleven, Bulgaria
Saint Marina Hospital
The Converged Network System (CNS) behind nine hospital systems, from the CT scanner to the terminal at every bed.
- 9hospital systems, each in its own secure lane
- 100beds, a patient terminal at each
- 336ports on four floors
The brief
- A university hospital built around technological medicine since 2011: 128-slice computed tomography (CT), 1.5-tesla magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), integrated operating theatres and robot-assisted surgery.
- One network for everything the hospital runs, day and night: scans, patient records at every bed, and Wi-Fi for staff, patients and visitors.
- Every system separate and secure, nothing stopping if one part fails, and room for new equipment and wards.
- Medical equipment going digital: HD and 4K endoscope cameras alone record 34 MB a second, and every patient’s record is kept for at least 10 years.
What we did
- One network for the whole hospital: 336 ports on four floors and two of everything that matters, so there is no single point of failure.
- We connected the hospital’s nine systems, each in its own secure lane: imaging, ultrasound, the terminal at every bed, the hospital information system, clinical applications, telephony, video and Wi-Fi.
- Everything documented to the port, as built.
- We designed the hardware behind it all: a medical-grade private-cloud data centre, fully redundant, every server virtualised.
- Wi-Fi across the whole hospital, with separate, encrypted networks for staff, patients and visitors, and the radio managed against the interference that is common in hospitals.
- IP telephony on one internal numbering plan, wired, wireless and mobile, and a secure, encrypted way in for doctors working remotely.
- The medical equipment came from its own suppliers. Our part was the network and the data centre it runs on.
The result
- The converged network and the data centre let the hospital bring its clinical systems online quickly, from patient records and radiology to the image archive and equipment tracking, and all of them run on that same foundation.
- The surgeon reads the scan, the nurse opens the record at the bed, the visitor joins the Wi-Fi: one network carries all of it, and none gets in the others’ way.
- Every device, link and address is on record, so every change starts from a known state.
- Six integrated operating theatres, the only ones in the country when they opened, record straight to the hospital’s image archive over the network, and a consultant anywhere in the world can join an operation live.
Built on Cisco switching, Wi-Fi and IP telephony · Cisco UCS servers · Microsoft Hyper-V and VMware
Planning a building like this?