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Teachers
Insurance and Annuity Association College Retirement Equities Fund
(TIAA-CREF New York, NY), one of the largest and most respected
financial service providers in the world, contracted Syska Hennessy
Group to program, design and oversee the construction of a corporate
data center to serve the entire company. This ground-up project
was designed to become TIAA-CREF’s national data center to
support their business needs and the relocation of approximately
4,000 employees to Charlotte, NC.
As the Program Manager for this level 9 (highly reliable) data
center, our team took the lead role to provide a full-scope of
services that included: consulting, engineering design, architecture,
construction administration and facility operations consulting.
The new 75,000 square foot facility, which includes a raised floor
data processing area of 30,000 square feet, was designed to have
zero downtime. Adjacent to the data center, Syska designed a Network
Operation Center.
As a part of our design approach, Syska Hennessy Group developed
a strategy for on-going analysis of the data center. Computational
Fluid Dynamics (CFD) was used during design and construction as
a tool in evaluating and validating CRAC unit locations, perforated
tile locations, airflow and pressure rates in order to employ proper
airflow for the new data center. With this tool, we are able to
better evaluate and recommend optimal placement of perforated tiles
and equipment. This evaluation also includes analyzing the existing
and the new equipment racks for proper inlet temperatures and airflow
rates to adequately cool the data center and its equipment.
With this facility having such a high level of reliability, the
systems needed to be tested to ensure proper operation. Working
with the Client, Syska Hennessy Group developed a three-phase commissioning
plan.
- Design Phase Commissioning: Commissions the Design
Criteria
- Construction Phase Commissioning: Commissions the Systems and Equipment
- O&M Transition Phase Commissioning: Commissions the People
and Processes
Our dedicated Commissioning Team, separate from our design team,
reviewed the design criteria and provided recommendations not only
to operability issues but to reliability and maintainability issues
as well. We developed start-up and acceptance test procedures for
each individual piece of equipment included in the scope and provided
integrated systems testing of the base building HVAC, computer
room AC units, critical electrical distribution systems, emergency
power generator, UPS, Building Management Systems, Fire Alarm,
Fire Suppression, and Security.
Prior to building occupancy, the team developed an O&M Transition
Phase Commissioning plan which not only ensured that the people
were properly trained to operate the equipment, but also that they
have the proper documentation and tools (e.g.: Computerized Maintenance
Management System, Systems Operations and Maintenance Manuals,
etc.) to operate and maintain the facility and its systems.
As TIAA-CREF’s business grows and their data center is further
populated, Syska continues to help manage and maintain the facility.
We are currently providing ongoing engineering support as a prime
consultant.
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