Build A Data Center

Watch Us Build a Data Center in 26 Weeks

Our data center construction process Digital Realty Trust builds data center facilities all over the world. On average it takes us just 26 weeks to complete a data center suite from the beginning of the construction process through to the completion of full level-five commissioning and customer turnover. To help provide you with a better understanding of our data center construction process and all of the activities involved in building a new Digital Realty Trust facility you can watch us as we build out one of our newest sites located at 1201 Comstock in Santa Clara, California. Just click on one of the links below to receive a more detailed overview of the activities being performed in those weeks and why we are doing it.

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Weeks 1 - 5

Getting Started

In order to support the added weight that will be added the roof of the existing structure at 1201 Comstock must be replaced. At the end of the first week, the building roof, structure, and all interior partitions and fixtures have been demolished, sorted for recycled content, and removed from the property. The concrete floor is being cut into pieces to ease removal hauling and re-use. (Bracing, secured to "dead men", have been installed to support the existing exterior walls, until they can be re-secured to the new interior steel structure.

The Ground is Clear

Demolition of the existing floor has been complete and the slab has been removed and hauled away. The concrete footings for data center’s new steel structure are being built.

Retaining the Façade

Bracing is necessary to support the existing tilt-up exterior concrete wall panels until they can be secured to the new interior steel structure. Digital Realty Trust has elected to retain the existing exterior appearance to facilitate timely review and approval by the appropriate jurisdictional authorities.

Building the Foundation

The wood framing on the ground is being used to form the reinforced concrete foundations for the new steel structure. The dimensional layout of these foundations is critical to the erection of the new steel structure. These foundations must be properly aligned, so the steel that connects them overhead will fit together properly.

Weeks 6 - 9

Utilities Installation

In this phase Digital Realty Trust has begun the installation of the underground utilities. Underground electrical and plumbing lines are being excavated. The mound of earth at the fenceline is the soil from underground utility excavation. At the completion of the installation of the underground utility installation, this soil will be to cover those pipes over.

Preparing Conduits

PVC conduits, for routing underground electrical cables, await installation at the bottom left of the picture.

Built to Last

1201 Comstock has been designed to the very strict 2008 California Building Code, and the structure has been upgraded to an importance factor of 1.5. This DLR property is designed to withstand a seismic event functionally.

Preparing for the slab

As we near the end of week seven (7) the underground plumbing and electrical installation is nearing completion, and the interior is being prepared for the pouring of the floor slab. Additionally, all the new steel columns along the exterior of the building are in place.

Switchboard ready

A large number of conduits now penetrate the floor slab. Each bank of conduits is precisely measured to stub up at the correct location within the electrical switchboards. At this time, the switchboards are in final assembly at a plant across the country - detailed drawings were used to perform this coordination. A small dimensional error, could have serious consequences.

Weeks 10 - 12

We have a floor

The floor slab has been poured and is setting up.

Steel has arrived

1201 Comstock’s first delivery of steel is laid out and ready for installation.

Preparing for the roof

Steel being installed on the roof to support 1201 Comstock’s cooling units.

Bring in the power

The first of the site’s UPS is lowered into the structure.

More to come

Just one more of the multiple UPS that will be used to support 1201 Comstock’s 2N power architecture.

Weeks 13 - 15

PDUs are in place

The Power Distribution Units (PDUs) are now in the building and stored on their stands awaiting installation.

Ready for a roof

1201 Comstock’s metal deck installation is complete. The rooftop equipment locations have been outlined in orange, and the site’s contractors will be coordinating all rooftop penetrations and equipment support details.

A freestanding building

All of the exterior support frames have been removed. The existing building walls are now structurally connected to the new internal steel structure.

Adding reinforcement

To prepare for the pouring of the concrete roof deck, coordination for the placement all the rooftop equipment is being completed, and the added reinforcements installed.

Finalizing preparations

Final preparations for the pouring of 1201 Comstock’s roof deck continue.

Weeks 16 - 18

The roof deck is in

1201 Comstock’s concrete roof has been poured, along with the roof curbs for the mechanical equipment.

Installing the switchboards

One of 1201 Comstock’s two main switchboard has been installed in its Electrical Room.

The interior

The build-out of 1201 Comstock’s actual data center has begun.

Up on the roof

The roof top mechanical equipment is now in place and ready for installation. Among this equipment are the cooling components that will help regulate the data center’s internal temperature.

The power infrastructure

The site’s power infrastructure continues to be built out with the installation of one of its multiple generators. Each of 1201 Comstock’s Turn-Key Datacenters™ is driven by a 2.25MW generator that serves as the base component of Digital Realty Trust’s POD Architecture™.

Weeks 18 - 19

A status check

During this phase, work on 1201 Comstock is focused on completion of the installation of all roof mounted components and making continued process on the installation and wiring of the site’s power systems.

Installing support systems

Digital Realty Trust’s contractors extend the smoke detectors, and sprinkler piping down to the suspended ceiling. Electricians are terminating wiring on the light fixtures.

The PDU’s are in place

All of 1201 Comstock’s PDUs are anchored and fully terminated.

Multi-source power sources

The site’s automatic transfer switches serving the roof top package air handling units have been installed. 1201 Comstock will be able to support the complete data center mechanical system from 2 separate power sources if necessary.

Inspection

A Silicon Valley Power employee inspecting the installation of the cabling and metering in the 12KV switchboard. Digital Realty Trust obtained a 12KV service from the utility provider, based on load, and proximity to the Utility Substation.

Weeks 20 - 22

Nearing Completion

During this time period the sites electrical components, connections and flooring are in the process of completion.

Installing the raised floor

The 30 in. raised floor with its underground cables and under floor sprinklers is almost complete.

Connected for power

The site’s incoming 12KV utility connections, terminated on Digital Realty Trust's 12KV switchgear.

Generators are in place

1201 Comstock’s 2250kW Cummins generators are installed and ready for test.

Air side economization

The automatic transfer switches for 1201 Comstock’s rooftop air handling units (the site will use air side economization as part of its cooling methodology) have been installed.

Weeks 23 - 25

Testing and commissioning

We are 95% done with all final interior touches and are in the midst full commissioning (testing) process.

Commissioning

Load banks are cabled to the PDU’s as the sites level 4 and 5 commissioning, in which each component and total system interoperability is tested under their maximum load.