A prominent financial institution approached HED for help resolving a challenge common to many data center clients: accurately predicting and preparing for future capacity needs without overspending in the present. While the client’s models predicted a need for quadruple the operating power of their current data center over the next ten years, when and how this growth would occur remained unclear.

To resolve this challenge, HED devised a modular, scalable approach with the ability to add IT capacity in 1MW blocks up to 8MW in six phases delivered in under six months per phase. Building on demand would enable our client to quickly ramp up capacity to accommodate anticipated growth as it occurred rather than committing at the outset to a larger facility that might be underutilized for years. Planning of the building and site was for the ultimate capacity.

This approach ensured that our clients’ investment aligned with real-time growth, enabling them to invest at a pace that reflected their present needs, while planning for future needs in a scalable and flexible manner; smaller or larger increments could be employed.

At present, the original IT capacity projections have not been realized. Should significant growth arise in the future, however, expansion plans remain in place to accommodate increased space and capacity needs when needed.