Wide angle view of the UPS Room

CoreSite NY2 CR104 Building B

CoreSite NY2 CR104 Building B | Secaucus, NJ

After successfully turning over CoreSite’s 24,000-sq.-ft., 4.5MW CR103 suite, the client was ready to transition into the next phase of their master plan. Adjacent to CR103 was a connected clothing distribution and warehouse facility, which CoreSite repositioned into a 35,000-sq.-ft. colocation data center, CR104. However, the abandoned warehouse space was not up to code or structurally sound to support mission critical loads. CoreSite knew during the master planning phase that the project was going to be challenging. They trusted DPR’s proven team to overcome these challenges together.

Photo: ©John Baer, Building Images Photography, 2023

Project Details

Built adjacent to a 24/7 active facility, the CR104 colocation data hall is a 4.5MW suite that includes a N+1 redundancy system with four main electrical power feeds, a new generator, four new UPS and switchgear lineups, 15 CRAH units, 12 PDUs, 144 RPPs, and six humidifiers. The newly renovated space was designed to offer clients the ability to scale cost-effectively in a purpose-built data center facility close to NYC. The suite’s interior space was fully demoed and rebuilt from the ground-up including a new 36” high perimeter dyke wall, new raised access flooring, upgraded structural system, a new fire pump, bathrooms, and a storage room.

Wide view of the new data hall
The new data hall includes the installation of 15 CRAH units. (Photo: ©John Baer, Building Images Photography, 2023)
View of the new Fire Pump Room
The new fire pump system will give CoreSite flexibility for future expansion opportunities. (Photo: ©John Baer, Building Images Photography, 2023)
DPR team inspecting UPS
DPR’s project team performing quality control inspections of the four new UPS and switchgear lineups. (Photo: ©John Baer, Building Images Photography, 2023)
Wide view of the new data hall
The new data hall includes the installation of 15 CRAH units. (Photo: ©John Baer, Building Images Photography, 2023)
View of the new Fire Pump Room
The new fire pump system will give CoreSite flexibility for future expansion opportunities. (Photo: ©John Baer, Building Images Photography, 2023)
DPR team inspecting UPS
DPR’s project team performing quality control inspections of the four new UPS and switchgear lineups. (Photo: ©John Baer, Building Images Photography, 2023)
We (CoreSite) knew early on during the master planning phase that the NY2 CR104 project was going to be challenging. The key to overcoming challenges and succeeding is often best solved by building the most capable team possible. The hard work that you all put into this has helped CoreSite meet all of the objectives that we established very early on in the process. I am very thankful and proud of this team and appreciative for the contribution that you have made.

ROB DEAN

Vice President, Design & Construction

The

Challenges

Working in Live Environments

NY2 is a 24/7, 236,000-sq.-ft. active data center facility. Although the new project was separated by a wall and away from CoreSite’s staff, all construction activities needed to be carefully coordinated as to not impact daily operations.

Repositioning an Existing Facility

The existing building was originally used as a clothing distribution and warehouse facility, which did not support requirements for a mission critical space. DPR supported CoreSite and the architect in the repositioning of the building adding structural support and the MEP infrastructure required to support a modern, flexible data center.

Flood Zone Mitigation

The project is located in an active flood zone. The existing facility was not originally built to deflect water infiltration, and needed to be protected from future flooding.

Fire Water Supply Pressure

During construction, the DPR team discovered that the suites fire water supply was coming from the street, and not the main buildings fire pump. The fire protection system needed to be redesigned to include a new fire pump, which would increase the suites water pressure to accommodate the data halls new pre-action sprinkler system.

Material Delays

The projects structural ceiling was delayed by two months, which would cause an impact to the overall construction schedule.

Aerial view of NY2
Existing site conditions
view of the team installing the new dyke wall
Upgrading the existing fire water pressure
Installing Raised Access Flooring
The

Challenges

Aerial view of NY2

Working in Live Environments

NY2 is a 24/7, 236,000-sq.-ft. active data center facility. Although the new project was separated by a wall and away from CoreSite’s staff, all construction activities needed to be carefully coordinated as to not impact daily operations.

Existing site conditions

Repositioning an Existing Facility

The existing building was originally used as a clothing distribution and warehouse facility, which did not support requirements for a mission critical space. DPR supported CoreSite and the architect in the repositioning of the building adding structural support and the MEP infrastructure required to support a modern, flexible data center.

view of the team installing the new dyke wall

Flood Zone Mitigation

The project is located in an active flood zone. The existing facility was not originally built to deflect water infiltration, and needed to be protected from future flooding.

Upgrading the existing fire water pressure

Fire Water Supply Pressure

During construction, the DPR team discovered that the suites fire water supply was coming from the street, and not the main buildings fire pump. The fire protection system needed to be redesigned to include a new fire pump, which would increase the suites water pressure to accommodate the data halls new pre-action sprinkler system.

Installing Raised Access Flooring

Material Delays

The projects structural ceiling was delayed by two months, which would cause an impact to the overall construction schedule.

The

Solutions

Owner Coordination

The DPR team carefully coordinated daily construction activities with the client’s operations group and planned shutdowns weeks in advance. As a result, the project had zero impact to CoreSite’s daily operations throughout the lifecycle of the project.

Upgraded Structural System

DPR upgraded the buildings existing structural system with new steel beams / columns, and new metal roof decking supported with steel horizontal cross bracing. Once installed, the roof was able to support the structural ceiling system for cable trays and the electrical systems.

New Perimeter Dyke Wall

After the suites interior space was fully demoed, DPR began installation of the new 36” high concrete perimeter dyke wall. The new wall will help mitigate future flooding concerns and divert excess water away from the structure.

Photo: ©John Baer, Building Images Photography, 2023

New Fire Pump Installation

DPR worked with the trade partner to test and verify the existing flow rate to the site. These tests resulted in the trade partner recommending an Aurora 8-383-15 electric fire pump, which is rated for 1000GPM @ 50PSI. The new fire pump system would support CoreSite today, and give them flexibility in the future if they wanted to expand the site.

Photo: ©John Baer, Building Images Photography, 2023

Rearrange Workflow

Construction activities were rearranged to avoid a schedule impact. The DPR team first installed the raised access flooring to continue workflow, which gave the project enough time for the delayed materials. Once the materials arrived onsite, we installed the new structural ceiling off of the raised access flooring.

View of the conference room hosting OAC meetings
View of the newly upgraded structural system
View of the new 36" high perimeter dyke wall below the raised access flooring
DPR team inspecting the newly installed fire pump
Installing the new structural ceiling off of the raised access flooring
The

Solutions

View of the conference room hosting OAC meetings

Owner Coordination

The DPR team carefully coordinated daily construction activities with the client’s operations group and planned shutdowns weeks in advance. As a result, the project had zero impact to CoreSite’s daily operations throughout the lifecycle of the project.

View of the newly upgraded structural system

Upgraded Structural System

DPR upgraded the buildings existing structural system with new steel beams / columns, and new metal roof decking supported with steel horizontal cross bracing. Once installed, the roof was able to support the structural ceiling system for cable trays and the electrical systems.

View of the new 36" high perimeter dyke wall below the raised access flooring

New Perimeter Dyke Wall

After the suites interior space was fully demoed, DPR began installation of the new 36” high concrete perimeter dyke wall. The new wall will help mitigate future flooding concerns and divert excess water away from the structure.

Photo: ©John Baer, Building Images Photography, 2023

DPR team inspecting the newly installed fire pump

New Fire Pump Installation

DPR worked with the trade partner to test and verify the existing flow rate to the site. These tests resulted in the trade partner recommending an Aurora 8-383-15 electric fire pump, which is rated for 1000GPM @ 50PSI. The new fire pump system would support CoreSite today, and give them flexibility in the future if they wanted to expand the site.

Photo: ©John Baer, Building Images Photography, 2023

Installing the new structural ceiling off of the raised access flooring

Rearrange Workflow

Construction activities were rearranged to avoid a schedule impact. The DPR team first installed the raised access flooring to continue workflow, which gave the project enough time for the delayed materials. Once the materials arrived onsite, we installed the new structural ceiling off of the raised access flooring.

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