Datacentre Solution Awards 2015 – double nomination for aql

aql is proud to have been shortlisted as a finalist in the “DC facilities Company of the year” category for the DCS Awards 2015. aql CEO and founder Dr Adam Beaumont has been nominated “DC Individual of the year” for the same edition.

The aql data centre infrastructure

aql owns and operates four highly secure data centres in Leeds city centre, with plans to expand the infrastructure with two more sites to create a city-wide campus of capacity. aql’s second city-centre datacentre was built in 2010 in the restored Salem Chapel dating back to 1791. The Grade II listed site was chosen due to its proximity to the fibre cabling and major carriers in the city and has many tens of terabits of connectivity, enough bandwidth capacity to support the entire region’s digital infrastructure. Since 2006, aql has built three highly secure, carrier neutral facilities. aql have a strong security focus – all aql staff carry government “SC” security vetting and its datacentres are accredited under the Government Infosec framework. This allows the approved hosting of large amounts of classified data, which means aql can safely support services to the blue light sector, NHS and the government.

In 2011, aql’s DC 2 became the home of IXLeeds, the only mutual non-for profit Internet eXchange outside of London. The exchange brings value and resilience to the city and has attracted national and international tier-1 operators. It’s also catalyzed the presence of content delivery networks and social media – installing their equipment within the facility, to better serve the growing digital demand in the region.

I am delighted that both aql and myself are shortlisted. We have been building data centres in Leeds to match the region’s rate of growth and increasing demands driven by the digital revolution. We are also working with Leeds city Council and local stakeholders to make our data centres part of a sustainable city, by delivering aql’s waste heat to local buildings. Many industry stakeholders understand that to build datacentres is difficult, but to build one in a grade II listed chapel is an altogether different challenge. The journey of renovation and engineering has been an enjoyable one. I’m looking forward to completing our next datacentre in April, followed by breaking ground on our new site later this year.

Voting and award ceremony

Award winners will be revealed on the 14th of May 2015, at the Awards Ceremony held at the Radisson Blu Portman Hotel in London. Voting is now open until 17:30 on the 23d of April. Please vote for aql and Adam here: www.dcsawards.com/voting.

aql thanks you for your support.