Designing & Building a Massively Modular Data Center
Scalable Design on an Expedited Timeline for CyrusOne
The presentation will be a combination of slides showing the modular design and the innovative
approach CyrusOne took to build a scalable data center in a condensed timeframe. Additionally, a video
showing a 3-D fly-through of the building information model will be shown, as part of the discussion of
prefabrication use and modular equipment integration.
In his new post as chief technology officer of CyrusOne, Kevin Timmons is advancing a design approach
called “Massively Modular.” This phrase reflects the ambitions of CyrusOne, which has super-sized its
approach to colocation facilities with the development of a one-million square foot campus in Chandler,
Arizona, near Phoenix. But CyrusOne also seeks to position modularity as an approach to a phased
deployment of space using highly-standardized elements, rather than the use of factory-built containerstyle enclosures. This undertaking is all under the limitations of a strict, aggressive timeline. CyrusOne
selected JE Dunn as a building partner in January, and the data center is scheduled to be completed
before the end of this year. This expedited timeline is crucial for clients of colocation provider CyrusOne
who hope to be occupying the space by 2013.
What Does ‘Modular’ Mean? – This portion of the presentation and the concept of a modular
colocation data center will be led by Kevin Timmons
Kevin Timmons will discuss the definition of modular and why this approach is what CyrusOne clients
and potential clients are demanding. He will address the scalable design for the entire campus plan,
focusing on the work that is being done with the first of several buildings. When fully executed, this
scalable plan will ensure that new facilities can be erected on the campus in a timeframe of less than 16
weeks. Kevin and team will review the massive amounts of city and utility planning that went in to
designing this scalable, multi-stage deployment of traditional data center space.
For CyrusOne, modular means incremental deployment of space that leverages the company’s supply
chain to support a repeatable approach that slashes cost and time to market. The key concept is
flexibility. The ability to massively scale a large facility gives CyrusOne a ton of flexibility. It is modular
without the constraints of small footprint. It’s paying for the common elements up front.
The first implementation of that vision is taking place in Carrollton, Texas, where CyrusOne has just
completed the first phase of its project, bringing 5 megawatts of raised-floor space online in about 14
weeks. The most current project to realize this modularity is right in Phoenix’s backyard in Chandler,
Arizona. This facility will be nearing completion at the time of the 7x24 Exchange Fall Conference in
Phoenix.
Equipment Plugs In to Perimeter – The equipment and technical specifications will be discussed by Ed
Downey with JE Dunn Construction and Mike Connell with Corgan Associates Architects.
This portion of the presentation will cover the application of prefabrication units, the equipment that is
being installed, the overall design of the building with office space in the front with a beautiful façade,
coupled with functional design and features in the back of the building. The pre-construction work that
was done to allow for the scalability and modular design approach will also be highlighted in this portion
of the presentation.
The design will use almost the entire interior of the building for technical space, adding mechanical
equipment to support power and cooling to the perimeter of the facility as needed. This approach gives
CyrusOne the freedom to deploy new space in large or small increments, and cool the space with either
overhead ducting or under-floor airflow, depending upon the end-user requirement. With the cooling
system CyrusOne is using, there will be no CRACs on the floor, which leads to the wide open areas and a
more flexible use of the interior. Some of the challenges were to provide a 40,000 square foot data hall
without any column disruptions to the space. We accomplished this by providing a 110’ wide by 380’
long data hall without any columns.
We also designed the cooling system around the use of a 60,000 cfm Indirect Evaporative Cooling Unit
(IDEC) with an additional chilled water coil to provide back-up cooling if water is not available. Each
~40,000 square foot hall will be provided with (18) of these IDEC units, but the modularity of the design
allows the project to install these on an as needed basis so that if the I.T. loads are not at the 150W/SF
(Average Design Density) we will not have stranded capacity. All of these units can be added without
impacting the day to day use of the data center space since they are physically set outside of the
building.
We are also working to make the Electrical rooms as modular as possible with the installation of (4)
separate electrical rooms and each room will contain (1) Mitsubishi 750kVA / kW UPS Module in a
Distributed Redundant configuration. Each one of these rooms can handle an additional UPS Module
when the loads in the data hall require the total UPS Capacity to 6 MW (Average 150W/SF). For future
phases we are working to create a modular electrical room that will be built off site and shipped to the
facility for just in time delivery.
The distribution from the electrical rooms to the data floor is also being planned early in the process so
that we can take advantage of the economies to install the 400kVA STS/PDU feeders underground to
various locations in the data hall so that minimal disruptions are needed to install these additional units
to provide the full 6MW UPS distribution to the data hall.
Since CyrusOne offers both colocation services and custom suites, the company can support
requirements ranging from a cabinet to 6 megawatts per data hall and more. The company expects to
deploy space in phases of between 2.5 megawatts to 6 megawatts.
Project Planning & Integrated Project Delivery – Kevin Timmons & Ed Downey
The final portion of the presentation will cover the timeline and order of events necessary to pull off a
modular design in a condensed time frame. The use of building information modeling was critical to prefabrication and a fast-moving timeframe. During this portion of the presentation, a 3-D visual flythrough of the facility will demonstrate how the work was done to specification and the vendor/partner
selection process that ultimately led to a successful shortened time frame of design and construction.