From Legacy to Leading Edge: London Office Transformed with Leviton
At a Glance
Industry: Finance
Location: London, England
Business Problem: Sumitomo Corporation Europe Limited needed to modernize its London trading floor without disrupting live operations or compromising sustainability, compliance, or performance standards.
Solution: Leviton’s 10GPlus™ Cat6A system and OPT-X™ Unity fiber backbone enabled a phased, high-performance network installation that met SKA Gold Certification while maintaining full trading floor uptime.
Background
As part of a strategic refurbishment of its London operations, Sumitomo Corporation Europe Limited sought to reimagine its workplace, enhancing collaboration, embedding sustainability, and supporting future digital demands. The project would not only modernize the workplace design, but also maintain full operational continuity for over 60 active traders throughout construction.
To achieve this, DMG Workplace was selected as the Design & Build Fit-Out Contractor, acting as both Principal Designer and Principal Contractor. They brought in Active Communication Company Ltd (ACCL), a trusted Leviton installation partner, to deliver a high-performance, sustainable network infrastructure tailored to the live nature of the site.
Challenge
Delivering a future-ready workplace for Sumitomo Corporation Europe Limited meant more than designing for flexibility and wellbeing, it required orchestrating a complex transformation around a live trading floor, under global scrutiny, and within the strict criteria of SKA Gold Certification. Every layer of the project, from cabling pathways to delivery logistics, had to meet uncompromising standards for performance, safety, and sustainability, all without disrupting critical operations or exceeding budget.
The space had to remain operational for over 60 traders throughout construction, with no margin for error due to compliance and connectivity regulations. The concept design called for seamless aesthetics, wellness zones, and open collaboration spaces. But embedding a dense, high-spec cabling infrastructure, supporting 10GbE, PoE, and fiber connectivity into such a polished environment required meticulous planning and close coordination between the fit-out and infrastructure teams.
Limited riser space, legacy pathways, and strict building fire codes under Construction Products Regulation (CPR) Cca compliance created installation complexity. The team needed high-density, flexible network solutions that could be deployed cleanly and efficiently, often within tight working windows.
SKA Gold Certification demands rigorous sustainability practices, from logistics and waste to emissions tracking and materials reuse. Meeting these targets while staying on schedule, and avoiding added cost or performance compromises, required close supplier collaboration, proactive documentation, and advanced planning around delivery routes and packaging.
As a global organization with cross-border stakeholders, the project needed to meet not only UK regulations and design codes but also corporate sustainability goals and procurement standards from Japan. This called for transparent documentation, in-person site visits, and product traceability that could withstand scrutiny across multiple stakeholder levels. The team committed to achieving SKA Gold Certification, layering in sustainability requirements that touched every detail of the project, from material reuse and energy performance to carbontracked logistics. The challenge was integrating these priorities into a smoothly running environment without sacrificing quality or momentum.
Sustainability isn’t an add-on; it’s engineered into everything we deliver.
Solution
To meet the project’s demands, the team implemented a Leviton-powered network infrastructure designed for uninterrupted performance, future scalability, and full compliance with safety and sustainability standards.
Leviton’s 10GPlus® Cat6A U/FTP system, selected for its 10GbE capacity, PoE support, and CPR Cca fire rating, provided the backbone for the trading floor’s connectivity needs. The system supported high-density deployments across desks and collaboration zones, while shielded components ensured signal integrity in a complex electromagnetic environment. Infrastructure was installed in phases to avoid downtime, with careful coordination between ACCL and DMG to integrate the network seamlessly into the evolving fit-out. The modularity and durability of these components enabled the infrastructure to be delivered in phases without interrupting live operations, critical to the project’s success.
“This project showcases how advanced infrastructure can be delivered without compromising uptime or sustainability."
Backbone connections were supported by the OPT-X™ Unity System, providing high-density fiber connectivity with streamlined installation and long-term upgrade potential.
Sustainability targets were met through a logistics strategy led by Edmundson Electrical Datatech, using a FORS Silver-certified fleet and carbon-offset deliveries from West Bromwich to London through Project Bendosol. Deliveries were consolidated to reduce emissions and minimize site disruption, while packaging was reduced and emissions tracked under Project Mark 2024. Reclaimed cable drums and plywood reels were reused throughout the project to minimize waste and support SKA Gold certification requirements.
To ensure alignment across global stakeholders, ACCL and Leviton hosted in-person site visits, including a factory tour and technical deep dive, giving Sumitomo Corporation Europe Limited and DMG full visibility into the product’s traceability, environmental credentials, and long-term value. This collaboration enabled the team to embed sustainability without compromising technical standards, schedule, or live operations.
Result
Delivered on time and without interruption to critical systems, the project successfully transformed Sumitomo Corporation Europe Limited’s workplace into a high-performing, future-ready environment, without compromising live trading operations.
The phased approach enabled smooth transitions across all stages of construction, preserving operational continuity for more than 60 traders. With the new layout, employees now benefit from distinct zones for focus, collaboration, and wellness, aligned to modern, hybrid work needs.
The infrastructure provides long-term value through built-in scalability, ready to support future upgrades, higher data loads, and evolving workplace technologies.
SKA Gold Certification was achieved through measurable carbon reduction, waste minimization, and verified sourcing practices, strengthening Sumitomo Corporation Europe Limited’s ESG position with internal and external stakeholders.
This project sets a new standard for sustainable workplace delivery, where zero disruption, future-ready infrastructure, and ethical execution all converge.
The project also delivered measurable efficiencies: fewer deliveries, streamlined installation, and reduced material waste all contributed to lower costs and a lighter environmental footprint. Beyond its immediate success, the approach serves as a scalable, repeatable model for future high-performance office fit-outs, demonstrating how workplace wellbeing, sustainability, compliance, and continuity can be achieved without compromise.
For more information, visit Leviton.com/ns/emea.