McLaren Construction has been appointed to lead the shell and core works for the first building at Ada Infrastructure's new Docklands data centre campus. The contract covers the construction of a 70MW facility—the first of three planned for the site—alongside campus-wide infrastructure and the interface for a future district heating network.

Situated in London's Royal Docks, the 210MW campus is designed as a strategic hub for hyperscale, cloud, and AI operations. The project involves a significant regeneration of a long-vacant site, incorporating extensive repairs to the Thames River wall and the installation of a new flood defence barrier. Public realm enhancements are also central to the plans, featuring improved pedestrian and cycle pathways along the River Thames and a multi-purpose community facility.

The sustainable design targets a BREEAM Excellent rating and utilizes low-carbon building materials. To meet the demands of AI and GPU-based applications, the buildings will feature innovative air and liquid cooling systems that function without water evaporation. McLaren's shell and core works are scheduled for completion in mid-2028, with the first building expected to be ready for occupation by the end of that year.

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To reduce carbon emissions and support regional employment, McLaren is utilizing a local supply chain, including Capital Concrete and Keltbray Environmental. Confirmed partners for the project include Keltbray for CFA piling, Menard for BMC piling, Gallagher for groundwork and civils, and William Hare for the steel frame.

James Moloney, Head of Ada Infrastructure EMEA, commented: "The appointment of McLaren Construction is an important step in bringing this vision to life. Their experience delivering complex data centre and infrastructure projects will be instrumental as we transform this long-vacant site into a sustainable, future-focused campus that also enhances public spaces and contributes to the wider regeneration of the Royal Docks."

Gareth Peebles, Divisional Director for McLaren Construction, comments: "A project of this scale requires a balance of expertise across multiple disciplines, including putting health and safety as a top priority. McLaren has built a tried-and-tested team of specialists in civil, structural, architectural and MEP packages, infrastructure and datacentre fit out. We will combine that expertise with our experience of safe and successful delivering within the many constraints of London's Docklands sites."