Project Execution
The 36,000-ft² data center raised floor area was designed to be built out in two phases, each consisting of 18,000 ft² of space. The raised floor area contains the computer room, tape storage room, Information Technology (IT) staging area, and network area. The electrical and mechanical infrastructure was sized to accommodate day one raised floor power loads of 100 watts per square foot (wsf), with capability to readily expand electrical and mechanical capacity to support 160-wsf raised floor loads. In-row coolers, one of the latest data center cooling technologies, were used to meet this future data floor heat density objective.
Parsons designed the electrical and mechanical systems with appropriate redundancies to provide uninterruptible data center operation. The electrical systems include utility incoming power services, back-up generators, switchgear, uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), power distribution units, and remote power panels. The mechanical systems include chillers, chilled water pumps, chilled water piping loops, air handling units, computer room air conditioners, in-row coolers, and cooling towers.
To meet the project completion schedule, Parsons’ design-build strategy for this project incorporated early procurement of major long-lead electrical and mechanical equipment (i.e., back-up power generators and primary power switchgear), phased construction for buildout of facility structural and architectural aspects while the mechanical and electrical design was being completed, and comprehensive commissioning of facility electrical and mechanical systems, life safety systems, facility control systems, and facility security systems. Parsons developed a detailed integrated schedule that coordinated the combined equipment installation activities of the owner’s personnel with the efforts of Parsons’ subcontractors throughout construction and commissioning.
Successful Completion
The Building K data center officially opened on June 27, 2007. The occasion was commemorated with a facility tour highlighting the center’s technological innovations, ribbon cutting ceremony, and reception attended by both Parsons and Perot Systems executive leadership, along with the companies’ team members directly involved with the project.
At the reception following the ribbon cutting ceremony, Peter Altabef, president and CEO of Perot Systems, remarked, “June 27 is an important day for Perot Systems. In addition to being Ross Perot’s birthday and the day Perot Systems was founded in 1988, we can now add the opening of this facility to the list of milestones. We are indebted to Parsons for their help in completing this expansion and look forward to our continued partnership, which celebrated its tenth anniversary on June 30.”
