At Matrix Consulting Engineers, we bring civil, structural, and digital engineering expertise together to deliver high-spec substation designs for high-performance data centre infrastructure. We are proud to have played a leading role in the substation engineering and BIM coordination for three pioneering facilities at Colt Data Centre Services’s Hayes campus in West London: London 4, London 5, and the future London 6, 7 & 8 cluster, totalling 250 megawatts (MW).
Colt Data Centre Services London 4 Data Centre
Currently under construction, the London 4 facility is the first phase of the Hayes campus, delivering 31 MW of IT power across five floors, designed to Tier 3 specification Data Center.
This hyperscale facility caters to demanding cloud and AI workloads. As lead civil and structural substation consultants, our scope included bespoke substation infrastructure aligned to high resilience and operational continuity requirements. Working closely with Colt Data Centre Services design team, we integrated architectural, drainage, earthworks, transformer bunds, and access roads, all coordinated via ISO 19650-certified BIM delivery.
Colt Data Centre Services London 5 Data Centre
With planning approvals secured, London 5 is poised to offer another 31.5 MW of IT power across 5,000 m² of data hall space Colt Data Centres. Designed to support both standard compute and high-power-density AI infrastructure, this phase integrates sustainable innovations like waste heat utilisation for local community heating. Here, our civil and structural designs accounted for thermal and environmental considerations, ensuring the substation layout and drainage systems align with broader sustainability goals.
Colt Data Centre Services London 6, 7 & 8 Data Centres
Representing the future of the Hayes campus, three additional data centres (London 6, 7 & 8) will bring the total IT power capacity to 160 MW, adding 98 MW of extra capacity, with phased delivery starting in 2026 and first completion in 2028 Cundall Data Centres. Anticipating this scale, our multidisciplinary design teams are already preparing infrastructure strategies, future-proofing foundations, duct routes, security fencing, and substation compound layouts to meet the rigorous demands of hyperscale deployment.
Seamless BIM Coordination Across All Stages
Across all phases, we deliver more than structural and civil engineering. Our role as BIM coordinators ensures:
- Clash-free 3D substation models within Autodesk Construction Cloud
- Fully coordinated designs for switch houses, transformer bunds, cable ducting, hardstandings, and architectural elements
- Clear digital handover files supporting both construction and long-term asset management
This approach supports builders, M&E teams, and Colt Data Centre Services own maintenance staff with integrated, transparent project delivery.
Collaborating at Scale
Our multidisciplinary involvement spans:
- 66 kV substation design for enhanced grid resilience Cundall
- Earthworks, drainage, road access, and reinforced foundations
- Transformer bunds with oil containment and fire protection
- Architectural treatments to meet planning and visual impact requirements
From concept to construction, Matrix Consulting Engineers has been instrumental in bringing Colt Data Centre Services Hayes data centre campus to life. Through meticulous substation design and robust BIM coordination, we’re building the infrastructure that will power cloud and AI services for years to come.
