Digex, Inc. Data Center (Verizon), Beltsville, Maryland

The Project

In an effort to support an expanding client base, Digex, Inc., an internet provider, sought to produce a facility that would house the technology to provide 24-hour support to its customers with increased speed and efficiency. The concept of a "server farm" was developed for a 100,000 sf data center.

Poole & Kent Role

As the mechanical contractor, Poole and Kent installed the following mechanical components/systems: (3) 500-ton chillers, a 1,400 GPM heat exchanger, a 3-cell ceramic cooling tower with concrete basin and self-cleaning sweeper system, (2) 20,000-gallon underground fuel Storage Tanks, complete Simplex Duplex Fuel Pump System and Integrated Day Tank System, (32) Liebert Units, four Trane air handling units, and various Trane fan cool units and unit heaters.

Challenges / Achievements / Goals

As with most data center construction, the Digex Web Farm was a fast-track project. One of the key factors in Poole and Kent's ability to complete this project in a strict time frame was our in-house HVAC fabrication facility. The majority of piping was prefabricated in our facility reducing installation time in the field and optimizing productivity. The Digex facility was constructed for future expansion as essential with the ever-changing data communications market.

Owner:
DIGEX, Inc./ Intermedia 

Architect:
Collman & Karsky

Engineer:
Leo A. Daly

General Contractor:
The Murray Company

Mechanical Contractor:
The Poole and Kent Corporation