Mission Critical Environments
Terremark Data Center Schiphol Airport,Amsterdam, Netherlands
Mission Critical Environments Today, successful delivery of high performance data centers is built on a new paradigm. The facilities that support providers of scalable and virtualized resources demand innovation at every level — from the design of the facility itself, to the way in which the project is delivered, and the people who deliver it. CH2M HILL embodies that new paradigm. We bring together the best people with the best tools and processes to provide start-to-finish coordination of architecture and engineering. Our approach focuses on innovation from design concept through commissioning; from procurement of long-lead equipment through systems integration; from the way we document project information to the way we report it. It’s about creating an environment where innovation and invention flourish, people work to their highest potential, and best value is captured for our clients. It means never settling for the status quo, always asking “what if.” It’s a philosophy and a culture we’ve forged and refined over two decades of partnering with demanding clients to deliver the most challenging data center projects in the world.
We have clients from 50 kilowatts to 150 megawatts.
Full Service Design in One Firm: Innovation at Every Level
Select Client List Domestic The Aerospace Company, FFRDC Bytegrid Cambia Healthcare Confidential Semiconductor Client Confidential Software Client Digital Realty Trust Equinix, Inc. Federal Home Loan Bank Goldman Sachs Grainger Hynix – Eugene Tech Center IBM Corporation Internap Network Services Corp. Lehman Brothers Los Alamos National Laboratory Lucent Technologies MediaOne Morgan Stanley Niobrara Energy Park Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) Pennsylvania State University Quality Technology Services Shell Oil Company Stanford University Starpeak Tyco Telecom University of Alaska, Fairbanks U.S. Department of Defense U.S. Department of Energy
International Citi Group China Huawei Industrial and Commercial Bank of China National Bank of Abu Dhabi Newfoundland / Labrador Republic of Ireland Saudia Airlines – Sinnovate Technology Hub STMicroelectronics Telecarrier Terremark U.K. Air Force VLSI Technology
Sinnovate Technology Hub, Saudi Airlines Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
From the beginning of every project we focus on the key decisions that will impact the overall construction and operating costs of your facility. Our team utilizes best practices in the industry that can be valuable for multiple facilities of a common type, starting with the establishment of a baseline facility design approach. Changes from this baseline approach must be identified and approved in writing by project management and corporate engineering leaders. We value a formal key decision process. This lists and timelines the anticipated key decisions required for the project (scope, scale, technology, topology, program areas, etc.). Such a process can include physical signoff by stakeholders to gain and confirm alignment behind decisions and their justification.
We understand that value means something different to every client. Differing opinions and approaches can be quite striking for mission critical projects. Some of this is due to the rapid evolution of technology and its impact on the critical mechanical and electrical infrastructure, which can amount to 80% of the project cost. Colocation customers may focus on initial cost, whereas other customers are more focused on total cost of ownership. For all of our projects, we partner with our customer and their construction manager to focus on value. The Value Engineering (VE) process is one that starts on the first day of design and continues throughout the early phases of design. Projects with the best cost control start with enlightened benchmarks that establish the budget. Key decisions in design are made with an understanding of their relationship to the budget and to total cost of ownership as a key element in the decision-making process.
A Range of Possibilities
Typical data center construction costs range from $7,000/kW – $35,000/kW, with factors including scale, electrical topology, cooling approaches, location, buyout approaches, and electrical technology choices.
Construction Cost Breakdown
Core & Shell 9% Land 2% Architectural 9%
Mechanical / Electrical 82%
CH2M HILL’s modular data center (MDC) approach houses highly optimized IT solutions in a plug-and-play configurable module available with next-generation air mixing technology
High-performance tools Eco-charrette: Our two-day workshops focus on sustainable strategies for the project. By exploring the way sustainability decisions impact client culture, construction schedule, and lifecycle costs, we are able to integrate sustainable design as appropriate to each client’s goals. We have worked with many clients to attain Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design (LEED®), BREEAM, Estimada or equivalent objectives on tight budgets, introducing cost-effective solutions with an understanding of the payback period for these systems. Collaborative Design with Digital Rapid Prototyping: Our unique approach for developing many different ideas very early on to inform the design process. In conjunction with other brainstorming techniques, we work closely with the project stakeholders using 3D computer modeling and traditional hand sketching to generate variations and evaluate alternatives from different perspectives. These services help establish the goals and broad schema, as well as develop building functional layouts and design concepts further into the process. Life Cycle Cost Analysis: We help clients examine all their production systems to decrease pollution, limit use of petroleum, conserve water and energy, and recycle waste. The result: significant savings in operating costs. Control Systems: The instrumentation and controls systems we design, install, and operate for advanced technology facilities help achieve peak performance levels that save energy, reduce waste, and provide valuable system trend data for owners and tenants. High-Performance Building Models: Our team of architects, interior designers, and engineers analyzed more than 40 sustainable design issues to create a high-performance building model that incorporates solutions for daylighting, improves indoor air quality, reduces operating cost, and increases employee productivity. Modular data center (MDC): Our patent-pending design emerged from a need to house highly optimized IT solutions in a plug-and-play configurable module with next-generation air mixing technology. The result is a fully contained unit that integrates dense IT solutions such as 1,000 virtual servers in a 15kW/rack. The architecturally focused module design provides an upscale image from the standard ‘shipping container’ solution, along with customizable skin options to integrate with any campus or site location.
We develop a complete team understanding and define cohesive project solutions through the use of wall meetings and programming sessions.
Oregon Health & Science University Data Center, Hillsboro, Oregon, U.S.A.
Airflow Modeling Tools Particularly valuable in data centers, airflow modeling (using Computational Fluid Dynamics, or CFD) helps evaluate the environmental performance of a facility, apply innovative energy efficiency measures, and implement sustainable design strategies such as natural ventilation.
Sustainable Solutions We have re-thought mission critical green design from the ground up, with ideas like hot and cold aisle separation, innovative use of outside air, and optimal site orientation. By focusing on the specific goals of each customer — and the unique opportunities of each site — we deliver worldclass performance, great people spaces, and cost savings over the life of the facility.
Total Cost of Operation (TCO) Analysis Our site analysis model integrates data in a variety of critical analytical categories including energy, taxes, and climate. It measures the impact of site location on a data center’s net present value cost and environmental performance; calculates the impact site choices have on a facility’s potential sustainability including CUE, WUE, and PUE; forecasts a site’s potential to incorporate renewable energy; and analyzes the impact of public and private incentives at specific site locations.
UPS Technology Efficiency Comparison
Hot Aisle
Cold Aisle
National Bank of Abu Dhabi Data Center United Arab Emirates
Integrated architecture and engineering is a powerful platform for innovation.
We are intensely collaborative. Our approach is not to design ‘for our client’ but rather to design ‘with our client.’ We aim for collaborative workshops where ideas are generated and evaluated by the entire project team, not just the design team. We encourage our clients to be active participants in the design process rather than passive observers — decisions are made sooner; broader consensus is built among stakeholders; design decisions tend to stick over the long term, avoiding wasteful backtracking and rework; and the quality of the work is improved.
On-site 3D modeling from the earliest stages of conceptual design. We have developed modeling techniques that allow us to generate 3D concepts ‘live’ during interactive design workshops with our clients and other key stakeholders. The early use of 3D models allows the project stakeholders to better understand the strengths and weaknesses of various options. Even those who may not understand conventional design drawings can easily visualize from virtual 3D models. We use various types of 3D models throughout the conceptual design phase, from simple, multi-colored space models to complex models suitable for renderings and presentations.
Design is fundamentally an iterative process. As Thomas Edison suggested, the best way to get a great idea is to begin with many ideas. Our approach to 3D modeling enhances our ability to quickly generate meaningful, alternative solutions by transforming and building off of previous ideas. Through comparing multiple options, preferred design concepts emerge naturally, stakeholders make more reliable decisions, and long-term consensus is strengthened.
The containerized data center market is expected to grow from $2.3B in 2014 to $7.5B by 2019, with the Middle East experiencing significant market traction.* *MarketsandMarkets Report, 2014
About CH2M HILL Employee-owned CH2M HILL is a global leader in full-service consulting, design, design-build, operations and program management services for public and private clients. With US$6.6 billion in revenue and over 25,000 employees worldwide, we deliver innovative, practical, sustainable solutions-helping clients develop and manage infrastructure and facilities that improve efficiency, safety and quality of life. CH2M HILL has long been recognized as an industry-leading program management, construction management and design firm as ranked by Engineering News-Record (2014) and has been named a leader in sustainable engineering and environmental services providers by Verdantix. Visit us at www.ch2mhill.com, twitter.com/ch2mhill and facebook.com/ch2mhill.
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