Last week, we celebrated the highly anticipated launch of MCR2, our brand new, state of the art data centre in Wythenshawe. Despite a few ominous clouds looming before the event, the weather turned in our favour, albeit with some gusts of wind that made the setting up of the ceremonial ribbon harder than it should have been. With the celebratory prosecco flowing, and the atmosphere was great.
Launching MCR2 – a catalyst for the region’s regeneration
Posted on in News
A grand opening in Wythenshawe
A community-centric celebration
At the heart of the ceremony was Councillor Emma Taylor, the Labour Councillor for the Sharston ward. A long-time resident with deep ties to the local community, Councillor Taylor was a fitting guest of honour to cut the ribbon at this event. Adding a personal touch, she was joined by her father, also still a local resident, who had followed the construction of MCR2 from the outset. His role in championing the project among neighbours highlighted the community’s involvement and support. It was a privilege to benefit from a truly local perspective at the event – to hear their views on the area’s needs and sense their genuine commitment to the region’s development.
The close partnership with Manchester City Council was another key driver of MCR2’s success. The event provided an opportunity to reflect on this collaboration, with representatives from the council joining the celebration to celebrate our successful public/private sector partnership.
Highlights of the day
For the companies involved in bringing MCR2 to life, this event was a great opportunity to step back, admire the finished product, and understand how each element came together to realise the vision. This was especially significant for the project’s senior architect, who had not previously seen the completed building in person.
Before our guests had the opportunity to explore MCR2, we kicked off with a few words from key individuals:
Dominic Phillips (Datum CEO)
Dominic expressed pride in contributing to the regeneration of this part of the city. He highlighted the integral role data centres play in the modern data economy, emphasising their position within the broader ecosystem – with hundreds of clients across our data centres, these facilities not only provide employment opportunities but also significantly contribute to the growth of local economies, particularly in tech hubs like Manchester. He also underscored Datum’s commitment to minimising environmental impact, ensuring that every possible effort is made to operate as sustainably as possible.
Jon Healy (Keysource MD)
Jon Healy, Managing Director at Keysource, a Salute company, shared his insights into the relationship between Keysource and Datum – a relationship that has been running for over a decade. Jon thanked the Datum leadership and board for entrusting Keysource with the significant undertaking of transforming the MCR2 site from a derelict job centre into the state-of-the-art data centre it is today. He highlighted the importance of the collaboration between Keysource and Datum, which has been instrumental in shaping the approach to this project, enabling the team to navigate specific market and supply chain challenges effectively, and facilitating the innovation required for this sustainable construction.
Councillor Emma Taylor
Councillor Emma Taylor placed the project in context, expressing her excitement about its role in kickstarting the regeneration of Wythenshawe. She emphasised the importance of data centres as a vital component of Manchester’s digital infrastructure, serving as anchors for investment and drivers of local growth. She highlighted how the construction of MCR2 reflects the city council’s strong commitment to investing in the development and future of Wythenshawe.
Tours around MCR2
Guests were taken on tours of the facility, and the first-floor data hall left a strong impression with its high ceilings still visible whilst the hall awaits its final fitout. Not to mention the outdoor roof space housing the data centre’s condensers, which, for the purposes of the launch event became known as the ‘sun terrace’!.
Being able to host the event inside MCR2 itself added a unique element to the launch. Standing in the very space we were celebrating gave attendees a tangible sense of the data centre’s scope and future impact.
A catalyst for change in Wythenshawe
MCR2 represents the first major construction project in the area’s regeneration plan, setting the scene for future projects to follow and offering a glimpse into a more connected future for the area. With brand new, state of the art capacity now available just south of Manchester, this is the ideal time to talk to us about moving your business critical IT and workloads off premise.
To find out more about MCR2, take a look at our technical specification, get in touch to talk to a member of our team, or book a tour of one of our data centres to see our facilities for yourself.