University Research Computing Center
A liquid-cooled computing hall and research labs went from sketch to energized in time for the fall semester.
- Owner
- Confidential
- Location
- U.S.
- Market
- Higher Education
- Delivery
- Design-build
- Scale
- 64,000 SF
- Completed
- 2023
A high-performance computing hall, liquid-cooled racks and research labs under one roof, energized for the fall semester.
Researchers were waiting on new compute, and the racks they wanted would draw several times the power of a typical enterprise cabinet. That meant liquid to the rack, a heavier floor, a bigger electrical service and labs next door that could not feel the vibration. The university hired one design-build team to get all of it right and energized before students came back.
The approach.
- 01
Cooling designed around the rack
Coolant distribution units, secondary loops and leak detection were laid out from the rack manufacturer’s data, not from a generic density assumption.
- 02
Overhead, organized
Busway, cable tray and liquid piping were stacked in coordinated layers in the model so power, fiber and water never fought for the same inch.
- 03
Long-lead gear bought early
Switchgear, CDUs and chillers were released while design was still moving, so the factory dates set the schedule instead of breaking it.
- 04
Proven under load
Level 1 through 5 commissioning ended with heat-load testing at full design density before the first research cluster was racked.
The outcome.
“A computing hall is only as good as the coolest rack on its hottest day. We tested for that day before anyone else had to live through it.”
Commissioning manager, ScottHarry
Planning something like this?
Share the project, the site and the date that matters. A senior builder will come back to you within one business day.