The all-precast concrete structure on this computer facility
helps it achieve its sustainability goals, provide flexible layouts and handle its significant infrastructure needs while also providing strong aesthetic appeal.
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Location:
Harissburg, PA
Precaster:
The Shockey Precast Group, Winchester, Va.
Owner:
Highmark Inc. Camp Hill, Pa.
Architect:
RTKL Associates Inc., Baltimore
Contractor:
Holder Construction Co., Herndon, Va.
Special Engineer:
CEG-Illinois, Mount Prospect, Ill.
DESIGN CHALLENGE:
Create a data center that does not conform to a typical -box of computers appearance by offering distinctive aesthetics and a high-quality working environment. The 87,000-square-foot facility had to include 50,000 square feet for computer equipment, plus space for infrastructure,
open-office and support space.
PRECAST SOLUTION:
Initial evaluations of several
structural systems' capabilities for
saving cost and schedule while
also providing constructability,
functionality and aesthetics led the
designers to specify an all-precast
concrete structure. This format was
less costly and could be enclosed
and completed in less time by
eliminating overlapping trades.
An aggressive fast-track schedule
was created that incorporated
all critical tasks into a seamless
process. The precast-concrete
contract was awarded based on
design documents that were
approximately 25 percent complete
at the time. The design team
collaborated with the precaster to
prioritize steps to facilitate the early
creation of precast shop drawings
and component fabrication.
Typical bay sizes for the twostory
facility were 50 by 40 feet.
Floor and roof framing consisted of
13'4" wide double tees spanning
50 feet, supported by inverted-tee
girders that in turn were supported
by 24-inch-square precast concrete
columns. Shear walls, including
some placed along the perimeter
architectural façade, provide lateralload
resistance.
Nonload-bearing exterior wall
panels were used along the east
wall and are not part of the lateral
load-resisting system so that they
can be removed and reused in the
future should the facility wish to
expand its space.
The large bays provided flexibility
in layout, which was important for
this application with its large serverrack
layouts on the upper level and
the substantial amount of critical
mechanical/electrical equipment and
infrastructure on the lower level.
Judges' Comments:
- This building provides a great use
of precast panels to express a big
warehouse type of environment.
The design beautifully expresses
geometries and horizontal lines.
It really was a clever idea, from a
sustainability standpoint, to take
a data center and wrap an office
building around it to make use of
the underfloor air systems, natural
ventilation systems and elegant
expression of precast, glazing brick
and other materials.
