Fentons gears up for next 100 years of innovation

Fentons, a building services and engineering specialist with close to a century of expertise in the field, is once again fostering innovation in the Sri Lankan construction sector, recently completing a number of state-of-the-art projects. With its extensive work on multiple, cutting-edge projects, many of which are based in Sri Lanka, Fentons has begun to set new benchmarks for the local construction industry, elevating its standards in the process.

A major project that Fentons has recently completed is the design and build construction of a fully-fledged “Tier 3” data centre for London Stock Exchange Group subsidiary MillenniumIT, Sri Lanka’s first such private “Tier 3” data centre facility. With an area of over 3,000 square feet, this facility has incorporated more than 25 kilometres of copper cabling and over 5 kilometres of fibre optic cables, in more than 80 racks, with a fire detection and gas suppression system included.

Another highly innovative project by Fentons is a fire protection and safety upgrade for 24 local factories for international apparel maker Brandix. This project marks one of the largest fire safety initiatives in Sri Lanka to date, encompassing both fire detection and protection, by utilising fire retardant cabling in addition to fire hydrants and water pumps. Importantly, these new upgrades have elevated the fire protection capabilities of Brandix facilities, which now meet 72 international standards and codes required by the widely respected, US-based National Fire Prevention Association.

Additionally, Fentons is also completing work on two high-profile tourism and hospitality sector projects, the all-new 200-room Marriott Hotel and Spa Weligama, the international hotel brand’s first property in Sri Lanka, and the newly revamped Galle Face Hotel, a globally-renowned heritage property. For the soon-to-be-opened Marriott Weligama hotel, Fentons was entrusted with setting up fire detection alarm systems, CCTVs, electrical and cabling, building management systems, etc., per the stringent international standards that Marriott is known for. While, for the Galle Face Hotel, the upgrades included full overhaul of previous fire prevention and electrical systems, ensuring this prestigious heritage property stays in line with the best local and international safety standards for many years to come.

Beyond being considered two of the most internationally lauded, luxurious hotel properties in Sri Lanka, also representing a new golden age for tourism in the island, these two projects have also allowed Fentons to, throughout the construction process, source as much as it can locally, in terms of hiring manpower, materials and even other resources, directly contributing to the national economy, and falling in line with the new government’s targeted growth sectors.

“It gives me great satisfaction to lead the Fentons team to achieve our objectives and maintain the traditions of innovation, quality and integrity handed down by our founders,” said Mr. Chandev Abhayaratne, Managing Director of Fentons.

Mr. Abhayaratne also added that, not only has Fentons been consistently growing and innovating, always looking to surmount the next worthwhile challenge, it has also brought its considerable, nearly 100 years of expertise to bear in preparing to face the next phase of economic growth in Sri Lanka.