PN4078 Building Integration Case Study 7/4/06 6:42 am Page 1

Integrating
ICT into the
design and
build of
schools and
colleges
RM has worked on new build projects
alongside architects, building contractors,
M&E specialists and other technology
partners. Here are two examples.

R
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Designing unique ICT solutions

to meet customers’ individual
requirements
RM has been designing and implementing bespoke and unique
information communications technology (ICT) solutions, based on
customers’ individual requirements, in new-build schools and
colleges for many years. These establishment-wide ICT solutions
are designed and implemented by combining knowledge and
expertise, from both RM and a carefully selected number of
technology providers. This ensures that customer requirements
can be met in the best possible way, while maximising
value-for-money.

Ensuring ICT is an inherent

part of the build
One of the essential elements of implementing ICT into
new-build schools and colleges is the collaborative working
across technology partner, architect, building contractor and
mechanical and electrical (M&E) specialist. This ensures that
ICT is considered an inherent part of the build, not an
after-thought – so saving the school, college or facilities
management (FM) provider, time, money and space.

Based on RM’s experience, a methodology has been built

for the design and implementation of ICT which overlays the
RIBA stages for costing and design of building projects.

RIBA Stage Major milestones in the ICT design development process

RIBA Stage A-B - Project Initiation Building design brief and educational objectives are produced by the customer and passed
to project team.

RIBA Stage C - Outline Planning to Based on the brief and objectives, architects and education consultants work up plans for the
Area Freeze building and ICT. Education consultants may also begin to produce associated improvement
plans that identify targets for professional development.

RIBA Stage D-E – Specification to Detail The project team works from the plans to produce specifications that are reviewed and
freeze signed off by the customer. Interface agreements with all parties within consortia are drawn
up where relevant.

RIBA Stage F-J – Cost & Resource Working from the specifications and interfaces, work plans and implementation plans are
Planning to Cost Freeze produced.

Working flexibly to respond to customers’

changing requirements
RM’s experience has shown that, in practice, this in an iterative
process as customers’ needs change and evolve over time.
These changes need to be responded to quickly and effectively
by the project team, with the customer agreeing to the
amendments, to ensure the building is delivered on time and
within budget.

This case study highlights two examples: ‘rebuilding a college’ and

‘building a new academy’, where we have worked in partnership
with the following groups to understand and respond to customers’
needs to design and deliver ICT solutions:
• architects
• M&E specialists
• technology providers
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Matthew Boulton College “I would like to thank RM

of Further & Higher
Education, Birmingham
The new main college building at Jennens Road was
rebuilt and opened for occupation by October 2005.
for its major contribution to the
successful move of Matthew
Boulton College to the building in
Jennens Road in 2005. The college
opened on time and within budget.”
Christine Braddock, Principal at
Matthew Boulton College

Collaborative working to integrate

ICT into the build
RM worked alongside the design and build team from RIBA Stage C onwards, and we were
able to further define the building design to improve the integration of ICT. In particular:

• Ventilation design and specification to allow for ICT equipment.

• Differing services for individual zones of the building.
• Other unique educational factors that impact on building design, including security.

The college appointed a project manager, and the first meeting, involving the architects, HBG Construction,
CDI Group plc (cabling) and RM, took place in October 2004. At this stage a focused ICT work-stream was
established to ensure that the move to the new building minimised the risk and maximised the benefits of their
ICT investment.

The ICT working group, chaired by the project manager and attended by HBG, the college vice-principal, RM,
electricians and building company representatives, planned and managed the impact and influence of ICT on the
other parts of the build. RM’s input at this early stage enabled HBG to reduce costs and manage time more effectively.

Planning and flexibility saved time and reduced cost

Here are some examples:
1. The date for telecommunications provision was brought forward significantly to allow for pavements and car
parks to be dug up, to get the external lines to college and ensure that Internet and telephone facilities were
available on time.
2. The original plan for the server room was for separate cabinets containing cabling and those containing
servers. It quickly became apparent, with our input, that one set of cabinets could house both the cabling and
servers, saving space and cost.
3. Parking outside of the college was very restricted, as was the use of the lifts during construction. Scheduling
the delivery of both the ICT and the furniture, between RM and the furniture-removal company, ensured time
was not wasted while vehicles containing expensive equipment were waiting to off load.

Telephony requirements
The college required a fully featured internal telephone system, with the infrastructure to support an IP-based
telephone (IPT) system specified as part of the design & build contract.

The solution needed to deliver state-of-the-art telephony technology to the college. The technology had to
provide the basis for integrating all forms of communication to, from and within the college onto a single,
simple-to-administer system. Voice, video and data shared the same physical infrastructure and communications
protocol. Importantly, the solution had to provide the college with a low cost of ownership.

Partnering to deliver the solution

RM partnered with 5i to deliver the IPT solution for the college. This was based on its expertise, quality of previous
installations, flexibility and also value-for-money.

The IPT solution consisted of a range of 160 Cisco IP telephones and Cisco’s voice management solution –
Call Manager.
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Requirements for wired and wireless

networking
The new building required a full data network installation, with
wired connections to all areas and wireless access in
designated areas. The wired network needed to support both
curriculum and administration use and provide support for the
voice solution over the IP network. Wide-area connectivity to
the college’s other sites around the area was also required.

RM managed and worked closely with CDI Group plc to ensure

that the wireless, voice and server room cabling met the needs of
the college and was delivered effectively. This was done via a single
point of contact with CDI, its appointed project manager for Matthew
Boulton College.

The college required secure wireless access in certain areas, to allow teaching staff access to the network
from mobile devices, such as Tablet PCs, and for Web-based registration.

Partnering to deliver the solution

RM designed and implemented virtual local area networks (VLANs) for the voice network, an Apple®
network, an administration network and a teaching network, as required, to segment and manage traffic
across the integrated IP network.

The network was designed with redundant fibre links, dual resilient core switch stacks and
resilient links to remote sites – all UPS protected.

RM worked with two partners, each with its own area of expertise: CDI Group plc was
the cabling partner, while Trapeze Networks was the wireless technology provider.

The new building was cabled throughout by CDI – data outlets were delivered as
required throughout the seven-storey building, as well as outlets for voice and wireless.

RM implemented the Trapeze Networks managed wireless solution, integrating a

secure certificate and Radius solution, to maximise security and ensure that only
approved and authenticated devices and users could access the wireless network.
The wireless solution comprised 75 access points and a central mobility exchange
which actively manages the capacity, security and coverage of the solution.

By managing the implementation of both the wired and wireless

network, RM were able to negotiate reduced installation costs,
producing an overall saving for the college.
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The Academy of St Francis of Assisi, “When you’ve worked

and lived the planning and
Kensington, Liverpool implementation of an academy and
things are starting to slip, it’s reassuring
to know that you are dealing with
professionals. In our case, RM was that
The Academy of St Francis of Assisi is one of the first built academies which
professional body. RM came in and worked
opened in September 2005. under very difficult circumstances, against a very
tight deadline and came up with the goods for
Collaborative working to integrate our opening day. It had an excellent
relationship with the builders and co-
ICT into the build ordinated the job brilliantly, for the benefit
During the build of this academy, RM were introduced to the project much later in of our whole community.”
the process, at RIBA Stages F-J. Through a flexible approach, RM were still able to
Steve McElroy,
ensure that the educational objectives of the academy were delivered and that the Vice-Principal
key milestones associated with the new academic year were met.

The main building contractor (Mott MacDonald), the RM project

manager and the academy project manager held regular
meetings to plan, communicate and progress the building
activity and the integration of ICT. The dedicated RM project
manager was the single point of contact for the academy,
responsible for managing the total ICT installation. As part of
the overall project, RM managed the ICT supply chain, aligning
the procurement and installation schedules with other elements
of the building construction.

Planning and flexibility saved time and

reduced cost
Here are some examples:
1. RM were able to replan the ICT delivery and implementation rapidly, to fit in with the shifting
building timescales. When it became apparent that the building was not going to be finished on
time, RM were able to work around this by performing off-site configuration of the network
server, small printers and a significant number of workstations. This saved two weeks on-site and
ensured there was an ICT facility available for the initial reduced intake of pupils.
2. The RM project manager was able to work with builders and other contractors to ensure that
hardware deliveries were phased to mirror the building schedule, avoiding the situation in which
large quantities of expensive equipment would be stored in any potentially insecure areas.
3. The RM project manager adjusted the ICT installation sequence (sometimes daily) to take
account of particular construction problems. This allowed work to continue, while the issues were
resolved, minimising the impact on the overall schedule. The use of RM’s own engineers and its
long-term partners for the installation work enhanced the flexibility achieved.
4. Extensive experience in new-build implementation and with the relevant government agencies
allowed the RM project manager to assist the academy senior management team directly with
decision-making, contingency-planning and communications with this high-profile new
institution.

Telephony requirements
The requirements were to build a cost-effective, flexible IPT solution which would allow additional
features (such as voicemail and wireless handset access in the future), with the option to employ
handsets over a DECT or IP-based wireless solution.

Partnering to deliver the solution

The solution was delivered in partnership with Mitel and was based on the Mitel
Networks 3330 Integrated Communication Platform. The Mitel 3300 MX provides all
of the call-routing functionality for internal and external calls. The modular Mitel
solution is expandable, by adding analogue/digital modules or by enabling a DECT
or wireless gateway. An integrated console allows reception staff to control multiple
phone lines from their PC, therefore increasing efficiency.
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Hardware supplied by RM to the Academy of St Francis of Assisi and

Matthew Boulton College uses Intel® processors.
Intel® and the Intel® logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Intel® Corporation or its
subsidiaries in the United States and other countries.

Cisco equipment was used by Matthew Boulton College.

Further information
For further information about RM and BSF contact us on 08709 200 200,
email BSF@rm.com or visit www.rm.com
PN 4078 03/06

RM, New Mill House, 183 Milton Park, Abingdon, Oxfordshire OX14 4SE

R
© RM 2006. All trademarks and copyrights of third-party products herein are acknowledged.