GWL Data Centre

building outside image

  • Client

    Confidential

  • City

    Mid-Western

  • Year Completed

    2012

  • Size

    52,000 sq. ft.

  • Sector

    Buildings

  • Sub-Sector

    Life Sciences & Technology

The Story

The Great West Life - Data Centre project involved the construction of a data processing centre equipped with the following: Greenfield 1.5 MW server; two 1.5 MW generators; and two 750 kVA Uninterupted Power Supply stations This 52,000 sq. ft. building has a two-layer roofing system, insulated 12 in. precast panels, and multiple wind/blast walls that obscure the view of the electrical yard. The building is designed to withstand a direct hit from an F3 tornado. The building also contains a number of features to accommodate future expansion, which includes 8,000 sq. ft. of shelled-in space for the requirement of future white space, foundation and file construction, and spare space, in both the mechanical and electrical rooms, to accommodate future equipment such as chillers, UPS and generators.

Architectural features include access flooring, a removable roof system, and a security pass-coded lighting system that lights up the data floor area through motion detectors. The construction material consists of piles, a structurally supported concrete slab on void, a structural steel frame, and an architectural precast exterior. The interior contains 20,000 sq. ft. of white space.

The building also contains a number of features to accommodate future expansion, which includes 8,000 sq. ft. of shelled-in space for the requirement of future white space, foundation, and file construction; and spare space, in both the mechanical and electrical rooms, to accommodate future equipment, such as chillers, UPS, generators, et cetera.

Challenges & Solutions

A challenge experienced in this project was the demanding schedule, combined with the heavy mechanical and electrical elements. EllisDon’s internal Building Services Group successfully helped the project team with scheduling, commissioning, and the owner’s pre-purchased equipment procurement, and also provided the technical assistance required to bring the project to a successful conclusion.