Engineering firm relocates with zero unplanned downtime
Complete IT relocation for a multi-site engineering firm with zero unplanned downtime.
A 120-person engineering firm needed to relocate their head office while maintaining uninterrupted access to CAD workstations, specialised software, and project files. With active client projects and strict deadlines, any significant downtime was unacceptable.
The new building had only basic cabling and needed a complete network design from scratch. The firm also needed to maintain high-speed connectivity to two regional offices throughout the transition.
Industry
Company size
Timeline
The challenge
What we found when we looked under the hood.
Zero tolerance for downtime
Active projects with client deadlines meant the business could not afford any significant disruption. Every hour of downtime risked project delays and contractual penalties.
Specialised equipment
High-performance CAD workstations, large-format plotters, and engineering-specific software required careful handling and precise configuration to ensure everything worked correctly at the new site.
New building infrastructure
The new office had only basic cabling in place. A complete network design was needed including structured cabling, server room setup, and wireless coverage across a larger floor plate.
Multi-site connectivity
The firm needed to maintain high-speed connectivity to two regional offices throughout the move. Any disruption to inter-office file access would affect teams across three locations.
“We were dreading the move. IT relocations are notorious for problems. Bigfoot planned everything meticulously. Our team came in Monday morning and everything just worked. It was actually faster than the old office.”
IT Director
Our approach
How we delivered the solution, phase by phase.
Planning and design
Conducted site surveys at both locations, designed the complete network architecture for the new building, and built a detailed migration plan with fallback positions at every stage.
New site preparation
Installed structured cabling throughout the new building, built out the server room with climate control and UPS backup, and deployed the full network infrastructure weeks ahead of the physical move.
Parallel running
Established temporary infrastructure at the new site with VPN connectivity back to the existing office. Began synchronising data so the cutover would be as fast as possible.
Weekend migration
Executed the physical move over a long weekend. All equipment was transported, reconnected, and tested. Every workstation, printer, and plotter was verified working before staff arrived Monday morning.
Optimisation
Spent the first two weeks post-move fine-tuning performance based on real usage patterns, updating documentation, and ensuring all staff were comfortable with the new setup.
Hours of unplanned downtime
Faster network speeds
Users migrated over one weekend
Data successfully transferred
Infrastructure improvements
What the new office delivered beyond just matching the old one.
10Gb backbone
Upgraded from 1Gb to 10Gb backbone network, dramatically improving transfer speeds for large CAD files and project data across the local network.
Redundant connectivity
Dual internet connections with automatic failover. If one connection goes down, the business stays online without any manual intervention required.
Modern wireless
Enterprise WiFi 6 deployed throughout the building with seamless roaming. Meeting rooms, break areas, and visitor spaces all have reliable, high-speed wireless coverage.
Proper server room
Purpose-built server room with climate control, UPS backup power, structured cable management, and physical access controls. Designed to support the business for the next decade.
Want results like these?
Every business starts somewhere. Whether you need to plan an office relocation, upgrade your infrastructure, or deliver a complex IT project, we can help.