SDS GEOlight® AT IMPERIAL COLLEGE LONDON FEATURED IN FLOOD MAGAZINE ISSUE 12

SDS GEOlight® stormwater attenuation tanks have been featured in the May/June edition (Issue 12, pages 22–23) of Flood Magazine, highlighting their role in supporting the delivery of Imperial College London’s landmark White City Campus development in West London.

The featured case study showcases the successful installation of three modular GEOlight® tanks at the new School of Public Health building, delivered in collaboration with PJ Carey’s Civil Engineering for main contractor GRAHAM Group.

Supporting a world-class research campus

Imperial College London’s White City Campus is a major expansion project transforming a former industrial area into a leading global hub for health, science, engineering and business innovation. The new School of Public Health building forms one of the flagship developments on the campus, providing 58,000 sq ft of state-of-the-art teaching and research space across nine storeys.

As part of this ambitious regeneration, SDS was appointed to deliver a below-ground stormwater attenuation solution capable of managing surface water runoff within a highly constrained and densely developed urban site.

Engineering resilience into a constrained site

The brief required a high-performance system that would protect the development from surface water flooding while supporting Imperial College London’s long-term vision for a resilient, interconnected academic environment.

SDS supplied and installed three GEOlight® attenuation tanks, providing a combined storage capacity of 651m³. Manufactured from recycled plastic, the modular system delivers both environmental and structural benefits, enabling rapid installation and precise configuration within a limited footprint.

The system plays a critical role in regulating stormwater discharge into the local drainage network, reducing flood risk and supporting the sustainability objectives of the wider campus development.

Delivery within a complex live environment

Installation was completed within a live, multi-contractor construction environment in one of London’s most active regeneration zones. Careys Civil Engineering managed excavation and groundworks sequencing for GRAHAM Group, while SDS installed the attenuation system along with ongoing site operations.

Careful coordination was required to ensure installation progressed safely and efficiently without disrupting the wider construction programme or future campus infrastructure layout.

Despite logistical challenges associated with the constrained urban site, SDS delivered the system in full compliance with project specifications and programme requirements.

Supporting long-term campus resilience

The completed GEOlight® installation ensures effective management of stormwater runoff from the School of Public Health building and surrounding hardstanding areas. The system not only mitigates flood risk but also contributes to the long-term resilience and environmental performance of the campus.

By integrating robust underground attenuation within a complex development framework, SDS has helped enable the delivery of a world-class facility aligned with Imperial College London’s STEMB (Science, Technology, Engineering, Medicine and Business) vision.

Industry recognition and collaboration

Commenting on the project, Michael O’Shea, Contracts Manager at Careys Civil Engineering, said:

“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.”

SDS GEOlight® at Imperial College London Featured in Flood Magazine Issue 12

SDS GEOlight® stormwater attenuation tanks have been featured in the May/June edition (Issue 12, pages 22–23) of Flood Magazine, highlighting their role in supporting the delivery of Imperial College London’s landmark White City Campus development in West London.

The featured case study showcases the successful installation of three modular GEOlight® tanks at the new School of Public Health building, delivered in collaboration with PJ Carey’s Civil Engineering for main contractor GRAHAM Group.

Supporting a world-class research campus

Imperial College London’s White City Campus is a major expansion project transforming a former industrial area into a leading global hub for health, science, engineering and business innovation. The new School of Public Health building forms one of the flagship developments on the campus, providing 58,000 sq ft of state-of-the-art teaching and research space across nine storeys.

As part of this ambitious regeneration, SDS was appointed to deliver a below-ground stormwater attenuation solution capable of managing surface water runoff within a highly constrained and densely developed urban site.

Engineering resilience into a constrained site

The brief required a high-performance system that would protect the development from surface water flooding while supporting Imperial College London’s long-term vision for a resilient, interconnected academic environment.

SDS supplied and installed three GEOlight® attenuation tanks, providing a combined storage capacity of 651m³. Manufactured from recycled plastic, the modular system delivers both environmental and structural benefits, enabling rapid installation and precise configuration within a limited footprint.

The system plays a critical role in regulating stormwater discharge into the local drainage network, reducing flood risk and supporting the sustainability objectives of the wider campus development.

Delivery within a complex live environment

Installation was completed within a live, multi-contractor construction environment in one of London’s most active regeneration zones. Careys Civil Engineering managed excavation and groundworks sequencing for GRAHAM Group, while SDS installed the attenuation system along with ongoing site operations.

Careful coordination was required to ensure installation progressed safely and efficiently without disrupting the wider construction programme or future campus infrastructure layout.

Despite logistical challenges associated with the constrained urban site, SDS delivered the system in full compliance with project specifications and programme requirements.

Supporting long-term campus resilience

The completed GEOlight® installation ensures effective management of stormwater runoff from the School of Public Health building and surrounding hardstanding areas. The system not only mitigates flood risk but also contributes to the long-term resilience and environmental performance of the campus.

By integrating robust underground attenuation within a complex development framework, SDS has helped enable the delivery of a world-class facility aligned with Imperial College London’s STEMB (Science, Technology, Engineering, Medicine and Business) vision.

Industry recognition and collaboration

Commenting on the project, Michael O’Shea, Contracts Manager at Careys Civil Engineering, said:

“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.”

Read the full case study here.