The new colocation data center in Ulm's Science Park is moving forward. As general contractor, the Data Center Group (DCG) is realising the project for SWU TeleNet GmbH, a subsidiary of Stadtwerke Ulm that specialises as a provider of various telecommunications services, on an area of a good 1,430 m². The ground-breaking ceremony in September 2023 marked the start of the project.
In recent months, great progress has been made with both the interior and exterior work. The route construction on the ground floor (EG) and upper floor (OG) was successfully completed. The concrete cosmetic and painting work throughout the building was also completed on schedule. In addition, the external thermal insulation composite systems (ETICS) on the components of the upper floor and the roof work, including the roof covering, were successfully completed.
Under the leadership of Tim Kohlhaas (project manager) and Jörg Münker (site manager), further important steps will be taken in the coming months: The plan is to construct the buildings in the technical brace, including the PoP (Point of Presence) building, the heart of the fibre optic cabling, the transformers and the emergency power system (NEA). In addition, civil engineering work is being carried out for rainwater, wastewater, lightning protection and the laying of empty conduits. The construction of the outdoor facilities and the installation of the raised floor on the ground floor and the floor coating on the upper floor will begin shortly. The steel construction for the roof structure on both floors is also planned, as is the installation of the racks in preparation for the technical equipment.
Construction progress is fully on schedule, even faster than planned for some trades, and the work to date has been completed to the client's complete satisfaction:
‘We are more than satisfied with the project so far. The Data Center Group has managed to work to schedule and to carry out all the work carefully, conscientiously and to a high standard. Every move follows a clear plan in which every piece of equipment fits into the next,’ says Jürgen Werner, head of the SWU TeleNet data center.
The data center is planned according to the highest sustainability standards. The power supply is provided exclusively by green electricity generated by the municipal utilities and photovoltaic systems on site. The fail-safe cooling systems utilise low outside temperatures so that cooling is only required at higher temperatures (‘free cooling’). An interface for waste heat utilisation ensures that waste heat can be dissipated and used elsewhere.
Promising negotiations are currently underway with various companies that are expected to be able to move into the data center at the beginning of 2025. Particular attention is being paid to supporting companies that require higher performance in the server rack, such as AI services.
Title picture: © tichr / #119903001 / stock.adobe.com (Standard licence)
