GCHQ Building Houses High Density Storage

The Government’s Communications HQ (GCHQ) previously occupied 50 inefficient buildings over two sites several miles apart in Cheltenham.
Carillion were awarded the contract to construct and manage a new HQ. The objective was to use the PFI process to develop a flexible, modern building into which they could decant their 4500 staff. This huge new accommodation will enable a flexible response to rapidly changing security situations and the threat of global terrorism.

To meet the storage requirements of high density and secure storage, Rackline were chosen, supplying Carillion direct with Multitrak Mobile shelving and Secure Pirouette Rotary systems through global office furniture manufacturer Herman Miller.

The £337m four storey building encompasses
100,000 sqm of floor space equivalent to 17 football
fields. 2,500 sqm of genuine Cotswold stone was used to create a rustic surround wall to harmonise with the surrounding environment.
Rackline was chosen because of it’s proven ability to work onsite with multi-partners and the ability to deliver on time. Further benefits were the flexible nature of the products allowing for re-siting if required, with the minimum of cost and time.

The Rackline Multitrak installation comprised of 200 bays of mobile shelving providing 1,880 linear metres in the Reserve Stock area and 795 bays of of mobile shelving providing 7,638 linear metres in the Archive area.
Multitrak is designed for carriages up to 15 metres long and with loads of up to 20 tonnes per carriage.

A powerful guidance and drive system ensures the carriages remain perfectly aligned on the tracks.

Rackline supplied 30 Security Pirouette rotary storage cabinets Each having 7 levels of shelving providing 319 linear metres of storage.
They are designed with a rigid steel case, heavy
duty locking style with combination lock. Other security features prevent covert entry.

“Rackline installed a Multitrak system comprising of 995 bays giving a massive 9,000 linear metres of storage space.”

Example of Rackline Multitrak mobile shelving.

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