CREJ

Page 36 — Office & Industrial Quarterly — June 2021 www.crej.com INDUSTRIAL — CONSTRUCTION I n this age of ever-increasing technology usage, data centers are in high demand for the stor- age and services they provide. As this market segment continues to grow in Colorado, build schedules are tightened, lumber prices increase and shortage of quality labor contin- ues to grow, prefabricated solutions have become an attractive and rapid option. Precast concrete construction reduces detailing and construction trades with year-round erection and fit-out for faster occupancies, which are important factors, especially given construction labor shortages. Precast concrete is prefabricated off-site, pro- viding the ability to meet a fast-track construction schedule and a con- densed duration. The speed at which precast can be manufactured and erected complements these aggressive schedules. This allows the structure to be occupied by other trades faster, supports earlier completion dates, and eliminates trade overlap of the core- and-shell system and similar trades. Systems can be installed concurrently, reducing the amount of shoring and bracing required during this construc- tion cycle. These components easily span large distances and provide an efficient floor depth required to fit equipment and wiring. Open spans are extremely cost-effective, providing column-free areas to allow for installing or remov- ing equipment. These long-span pre- cast floor members are strong, stiff, heavy and offer a method of minimiz- ing vibration transfer from equipment and personnel. High ceiling require- ments are supported by prestressed load-bearing sys- tems and meet inte- rior space require- ments ranging from single to multiple stories. Using a precast wall panel system can result in achieving building heights up to 50 feet or more with one panel, and without the need for inter- stitial floor connec- tions. Typical design and construction of stacking server components over mechanical components is achieved through this high-bay construction technique. The precast design process is a detail-oriented step in the delivery process of a total precast data center. To facilitate the prefabrication process, a precast design team can prepare shop drawings concurrently with contract drawing development, and work closely with the owner, archi- tect, structural engineer and general contractor. The design phase of the delivery process can be performed alongside the development phases of schematic design, detail design and construction documentation. A precast solution easily accom- modates future expansion planning and future loading demands if needed. Non-load-bearing wall panels can be removed from one end of the building, with new panels added to the sides and the original panels reattached to add space. This is quite common and simple, and precast is easily matched to existing building colors and fin- ishes. Data centers typically are designed with large façade areas and pan- els. Precast provides a wide array of affordable aesthetic advantages, from multiple mix and finish options to maintenance-free finishes, which can be integrated into a single panel. This type of exterior panel design creates a functional load-bearing architectural panel and reduces additional framing members, eliminating redundancy in the structure. Often, data center exteriors include wall panels with a layer of insulation sandwiched between two layers of concrete. It is this construction meth- od that generates the greatest thermal mass benefit of the enclosure system, which is a key benefit of a precast con- crete. Since concrete has high specific heat, a high product density and con- ductivity, a large amount of heat ener- gy can be absorbed and released in the surrounding environment, reducing indoor temperature fluctuations. The high thermal mass of the concrete wall panels provides thermal stor- age and reduces energy requirements through the ability of the concrete to absorb, store and release heat as need- ed. This natural release to the interior of the structure will dramatically shift the energy demands of HVAC equip- ment. This shift reduces peak demand as well as the duration of the peak requirement. Nearly all data centers require strin- gent structural load requirements in an effort to keep the facilities opera- tional in the case of a catastrophic event. Precast structures are able to meet the rigorous demands of highly specialized data center and warehouse structures and have the advantage of being able to transfer these forces through proper load paths down to Data centers are opting to use precast concrete Rachel Schiebout Marketing administrator, EnCon United Often, data center exteriors include wall panels with a layer of insulation sandwiched between two layers of concrete. It is this construction method that generates the great- est thermal mass benefit of the enclosure system. Please see Schiebout, Page 37