Zumtobel and project partners deliver mission-critical lighting for AI-ready Global Switch’s London data centre
Posted by: electime 13th May 2026
At the heart of London’s Docklands, Global Switch London East forms part of one of Europe’s most connected digital infrastructure campuses. Designed to support high-performance computing, AI deployments and advanced liquid cooling technologies, the facility continues to evolve through a phased refurbishment programme focused on flexibility, efficiency and resilience.
Zumtobel was appointed to deliver a comprehensive lighting solution spanning multiple floors of the building, including data halls, plant areas and a pioneering liquid cooling demonstration suite. The project highlights the role of adaptable lighting infrastructure within mission-critical environments where performance, reliability and flexibility are essential.
Global Switch’s London campus is undergoing continuous redevelopment to accommodate the rising demands of AI and high-performance computing. As part of this programme, refurbished floors required lighting capable of supporting operational safety, visual clarity at rack level and long-term energy efficiency.
The project brought together multiple consultants and stakeholders across different phases, including Hilson Moran, Burns & McDonnell and AFK Studios, with Datalec Precision Installations (DPI) responsible for installation. Coordinating design intent across eleven floors while maintaining consistency and programme alignment presented a significant logistical challenge.
Collaboration supporting phased delivery
Zumtobel’s nationwide project team worked closely with consultants, contractor and client representatives to ensure a cohesive approach across each stage of the refurbishment. Clear communication and a shared understanding of operational requirements allowed the lighting strategy to evolve alongside the building programme while maintaining consistency across floors.
Ken Knight, Head of Data Centres – UK & Ireland, Zumtobel Group, comments:
“Data centre environments place very specific demands on lighting, from vertical illuminance at rack level to reliability and energy efficiency. Our role was to translate those requirements into a scalable solution that could be implemented across multiple floors while supporting Global Switch’s ongoing expansion and innovation strategy.”
A flexible lighting platform for data-driven environments
The final solution combined robust industrial luminaires, advanced emergency systems and intelligent controls to meet the operational demands of a high-density data centre.
TECTON continuous-row lighting formed the backbone of the data hall installation, delivering precise vertical illuminance on rack frontals through split-lens optics. This approach enhances visibility for maintenance and operational tasks while avoiding unnecessary light spill onto circulation areas.
TECTON with RESCLITE PRO emergency luminaires were integrated with the eBOX monitoring platform, providing a self-testing and self-reporting emergency solution aligned with the reliability expectations of mission-critical facilities.
Across plant areas, offices and shared spaces, AMPHIBIA luminaires were selected for their durability and IK-rated performance, ensuring resilience in technically demanding environments. ECOSIGN emergency signage supported safe navigation, while the LITECOM lighting management system enables centralised monitoring and control across all luminaires.
As the refurbishment progresses, TECTON II is planned for levels eight and nine. Its plug-and-play architecture supports faster installation, with independent installer studies showing average installation speeds of up to 70% faster than comparable systems, helping streamline delivery across future phases.
Matt Perrier Flint, Director UK & Ireland, DPI, comments: “Delivering a project of this scale required close coordination between all parties. The modular design of the Zumtobel lighting system simplified installation and helped maintain programme certainty, while the collaborative approach ensured that technical requirements were clearly understood at every stage.”
Supporting innovation in the liquid cooling suite
Level ten houses Global Switch’s liquid cooling demonstration suite, showcasing a full breadth of the latest technologies designed to enable the most powerful chips to operate with greater efficiency and at higher densities. Designed by AFK Studios, the space was developed in collaboration with project partner JPR in developing the lighting solution to complement the technical environment while maintaining clarity and operational safety.
The scheme illustrates how adaptable lighting infrastructure can support evolving digital technologies and demonstration environments without compromising efficiency or maintainability.
Measurable benefits across performance and operations
The upgraded lighting delivers a range of operational advantages for Global Switch:
- Improved vertical illuminance supporting safe and efficient rack maintenance
- Reduced energy consumption through LED technology and intelligent controls
- Simplified installation and future adaptability via modular TECTON architecture
- Self-monitoring emergency lighting enhancing reliability and compliance
- Durable luminaires suited to plant and technical environments
Together, these improvements provide a consistent lighting platform capable of evolving alongside the campus’s ongoing densification and technology development.
Derek Allen, Group Operations Director at Global Switch, comments: “Across our global portfolio, operational resilience and flexibility are fundamental. The lighting strategy implemented at our London data centre supports safe, efficient operations while giving us the adaptability required to meet evolving customer demands. It forms part of the wider infrastructure platform that enables us to support increasingly complex AI and high-performance computing deployments.”
Emily Clark, Global Switch, adds: “As our London data centre continues to evolve to support the demands of the most powerful AI and high-performance workloads, it was important that the supporting infrastructure could match that pace of innovation. The lighting solution delivered by Zumtobel provides the performance, flexibility and reliability we require across both operational data halls and demonstration spaces.”
To view the full project, please visit https://www.zumtobel.co.uk/en-gb/cs/global-switch
