Manchester Joint Venture Control Room

Manchester, UK

Project outline

New high technology control room, new office building and both new build and refurbishment of 21 car parks for Joint Venture development between Manchester City Council and NCP.

Contract value

£10m

Key features

• Largest control of its type in Europe
• Monitors up to 500 CCTV cameras 24/7
• Integrated city watch and car park systems
• Separate police/evidence viewing area
• Biometric access control system
• Dedicated fibre optic communications and data network

Skills utilised

• Advanced Security design
• IT & Communications
• Mechanical & Electrical Engineering
• Structural Engineering
• Project Management
• Contract administration

Project detail

A system of this size and complexity requires an infrastructure far beyond that of any typical CCTV system and, as such, the workings of the system were to be installed and maintained in an adjacent secure location. The necessary power, air conditioning and datacomms infrastructures were built to an extremely detailed design, which formed a part of Faber Maunsell's role within the project. The sheer quantity and complexity of the equipment required dictated a room resembling something one would ordinarily expect to find in a computer network facility.

This project was the first time a number of these systems have been integrated to such an extent and, as such, the requirements and solutions changed numerous times throughout the project. One of Faber Maunsell's principal roles was to help manage and document these changing requirements, implementations and possible solutions. As a number of installation companies were involved, this required detailed project/programme management and co-ordination of the control room and remote sites.

The project was taken from the initial concept design, through tender, procurement & full on-site implementation.

Close liaison with all departments of NCP has been paramount to the success of the project. This includes a change control mechanism and the development of detailed generic specifications.