School of Public Health, Imperial College...

Flood Prevention

SDS stormwater attenuation system protects landmark academic building from risk of flooding

Overview

Imperial College London’s new White City Campus marks one of the most significant expansions in the university’s history. Designed as a “campus of serendipity,” the development creates a vibrant, multidisciplinary environment where researchers, academics and businesses can collaborate to spark innovation and discovery.

At the heart of this new district is the School of Public Health, a landmark nine-storey building providing 58,000 sq ft of state-of-the-art research, teaching and community spaces. Located within a densely built urban site and surrounded by major transport infrastructure, the project demanded a robust drainage solution to manage surface water effectively and support Imperial’s long-term environmental goals.

What we Did

SDS supplied and supported the installation of three GEOlight® stormwater attenuation tanks, providing a total of 651m³ of underground storage. Installed during early infrastructure works in coordination with GRAHAM Group and Careys Civil Engineering, the GEOlight® system was selected for its lightweight modular design, structural strength, and environmental performance, being manufactured from 100% recycled plastic.

The tanks were designed to attenuate peak surface water flows and gradually release them into the downstream network, reducing flood risk and ensuring full compliance with planning and sustainability conditions. SDS worked closely with the project team to coordinate delivery, installation, and on-site integration within the complex, multi-phase construction programme of the White City Campus.

Results

The SDS GEOlight® system now provides critical drainage capacity beneath one of Imperial College London’s most ambitious new facilities. By delivering a high-performance and environmentally responsible solution, SDS has helped the project meet stringent planning requirements and reinforced the university’s commitment to sustainable, future-ready infrastructure.

SDS provided an excellent service on the Imperial College White City project. Their GEOlight® system was delivered on time and installed seamlessly, contributing to the overall success of the scheme. Throughout the project, the SDS team was proactive, responsive, and a pleasure to work with. This collaborative approach contributed towards Careys being shortlisted for the BCIA Award for Team Excellence on this project. We look forward to working with SDS again on future projects.

– Michael O’Shea, Contracts Manager, Careys Civil Engineering

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