December 14, 2020, Article 9
Chad Warren, PE – Data Center Design Specialist
In the world of enterprise IT, data centers are designed to support business applications and activities that include email and file sharing, productivity applications, extensive data, artificial intelligence and machine learning, communications, and more. With a significant portion of the workforce working remotely in today’s current climate, the demand for data centers to accommodate these technological needs is skyrocketing.
Let us start with the basics: What is a data center? At its simplest, a data center is a physical facility that organizations use to house their critical applications and data. Designing a data center is based on a network of computing and storage resources that enable the delivery of shared applications and data. A data centers’ design consists of critical components including routers, switches, firewalls, storage systems, servers, and application delivery controllers. Hyperscale data centers are not just one building, but multiple buildings, including new structures and expansion of existing buildings.
Two of Bennett & Pless’ structural engineers, Chad Warren and Wes McLean, recently sat down with us to discuss the hard work and attention to detail that goes into data centers’ design. From the surface, the structural components of a data center do not appear to be too complicated. However, Chad and Wes were quick to bring to my attention that the elements the naked eye does not see are unique and detailed. When it comes to the foundation of these facilities, there is so much to consider. As one can imagine, data centers require significant electrical infrastructure to accommodate the amount of power and binary traffic that flows through them; therefore, the underground routing of electrical conduits becomes a critical aspect of the foundation design and coordination.
Not all the complex items are underground. There are surface-level concerns that need attention too. Coordination is vital when it comes to the placement of the electrical conduit and mechanical systems that hang from the roof of the facility. The significant amount of weight from the chilled water-cooling systems that stabilize the heat generated from the massive amount of power running through a center also needs to be considered during design. It takes coordination between the design team and the contractors of mission-critical facilities to ensure all these factors come together.
The demand for data centers has ramped up significantly with the onslaught of the Covid-19 pandemic, creating competition between the industry’s most prominent players. 5G is taking the world by storm, and there is no sign of a slowdown anytime soon. Wes and Chad mentioned that there were billions in investment dollars for data centers before the pandemic. It has grown significantly since March, especially with the workforce adapting to the current environment, whether remote or in the office.
While the course of the Covid-19 pandemic is not clear, what is clear is that the future of data centers is here to stay.
Wes McLean, PE – Data Center Design Specialist
