Fidelity's Centercore Model Offers Data Centers Greater Design, Construction Flexibility

The range of available data center solutions and services is almost as broad as the digital services they enable. Yet, not every data center solution meets every need. Fidelity Investments recognized the need to create an on-demand, durable, and quickly deployed facility that is flexible and adaptable to a number of configurations. Centercore is designed to meet those needs. It is a new type of data center delivery model that improves project delivery time, yet satisfies the need for a robust and reliable mission critical facility. The core module is an offsite fabricated steel module that can be transported on a freight truck and installed on site.

Centercore is comprised of core units, a system of stackable steel frames that link together and are shipped with all mechanical, electrical, IT, fire suppression, and security systems in place. Three types of core units make up Centercore: a compute (IT) level, an electrical level, and a roof-top equipment level. The IT and electrical units may be located on either the lower or upper level depending on the site. Core units can be arranged in either single or double rows depending on demand, with 40- or 80-foot-wide compute spaces. This system of core units is adaptable and customizable to suit any IT program, including a wide range of compute densities, tier levels, cooling and power types and redundancies. End walls feature removable panels that enable expansion to add core units in the manner and time that is required.

To date, Centercore has been deployed twice, both for Fidelity Investments. The 500-kW proof of concept was fabricated in four months and erected in a week at Fidelity's data center in Research Triangle Park, N.C. The second deployment, in Omaha, Neb., will be operational in early 2014 and doubles the floor area and power to 1MW. The proof of concept uses air-cooled chillers and CRAHs with 100 percent economization capability. For the 1MW Omaha version, a pumped refrigerant system is used to cool the IT and UPS spaces.

Centercore Features and Benefits Centercore provides responsive capacity while preserving the stability, resiliency, feel, and functionality of a traditional data center. Innovative features include: Stability: Integrating a robust steel structure with a weather-resilient exterior shell, the result is a hardened and secure building designed to meet F3 wind rating and seismic criteria. A stacked multi-level structure reduces the overall facility footprint. Advanced Design: Centercore building blocks are fabricated offsite and assembled on premise. The off-site fabrication enables on-demand planning and investment, which equates to less than eight months for fabrication, delivery, and assembly on-site. Adaptability and Efficiency: Open, column-free floor plans provide complete flexibility and diversity for IT equipment, as well as a range of power/cooling technologies and options. An operations efficiency and sustainability dashboard provides real time assessment for upper management. Other features include: 100 percent free-cooling capability Single 400V distribution end-to-end Lower energy use Accelerated depreciation benefits Significant capital cost avoidance 6 to 8 months to deploy provides quality and rigor in construction, design, infrastructure, manufacturing, and assembly. — John T. Moran

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