Technical Infrastructure

This is an area where you would not necessarily expect architects and builders to have a lot of specialist knowledge so you will need to ensure that you involve suitably qualified professionals in your reality check. You might start by asking:

• Have you considered the location and capacity of power sources?
• Do you know the location and precise route of other mains services?
• Do you know where your nearest JANET connection is situated?
• Have you looked at the length of cable runs?
• Have you considered the location of server rooms e.g. to ensure you haven't sited one beneath a water tank?
• Have you considered the ventilation/cooling requirements of server rooms and any other rooms with specialist machinery?
• Do you know the details of rack sizes etc to ensure that the equipment will fit into the planned space?
• Has there been adequate liaison between technical and IT suppliers and your own technical or IT staff to ensure that new equipment is compatible with existing services/infrastructure?
• Have you checked sight lines in relation to all static audio-visual equipment in teaching rooms?
• Can you get a mobile phone signal where necessary such as in reception and social/collaborative areas?
• Will printing/copying or other equipment cause noise in open plan areas?
• Have you fully considered all accessibility issues e.g. does the estimated 'footprint' allow for larger screens/keyboards/wheelchair access where necessary?
• Have you thought about all the spaces people might use as learning spaces e.g. are garden areas and study bedrooms wifi enabled?
• Is it clear what source is funding the cost of new and replacement equipment e.g. the project, institutional or local budget?
• Have you taken all possible steps to facilitate flexibility such as using raised floors so that services can be moved as necessary?
• Are you confident you understand the ongoing costs associated with the technology?
• Have you thought about replacement cycles and the scheduling of upgrades/replacement?