Top performance for research, teaching and administration
A milestone for the future! Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) has opened its new state-of-the-art data center. With this powerful IT infrastructure, the university is creating optimal conditions for sophisticated HPC (High Performance Computing) and AI applications while strengthening its position in cutting-edge digital research. Since the end of 2021, the university has been part of the National High-Performance Computing (Nationales Hochleistungsrechnen – NHR) consortium south-west and is available to scientists from all over Germany for complex computing operations and the analysis of large amounts of data.
Project progress and milestones
The data center was not only completed ahead of schedule but also meets the highest standards of sustainability and security. In close cooperation with the Data Center Group (DCG), the general contractor responsible for the planning, design and construction of the data center, the project was completed ahead of schedule despite the demanding technical and logical requirements.
Groundbreaking ceremony
The official start of construction took place at the end of May 2023 with a symbolic groundbreaking ceremony. Representatives from science, politics and business emphasized the importance of the project for the region and for JGU.
Topping-out ceremony
In January 2024, just nine months after the groundbreaking ceremony, the shell of the building was completed and officially inaugurated with guests from the
worlds of science and politics.
Commissioning
The data center was completed on 17 April 2025, faster than the originally planned two years. This allowed the official handover to take place.
Innovative technology meets sustainable infrastructure
JGU‘s new data center combines state-of-the-art technology with sustainable construction to meet the demands of high-performance computing, security and energy efficiency. The technical and infrastructural features of the data center set new standards for the university‘s digital future.
Space and construction costs
The data center was built in approximately two years and covers a total area of 1,870 m² at an investment of 29 million euros.
Maximum IT load
The IT systems can be operated at a maximum load of 3,600 kW, ensuring powerful and reliable computing power for research and administration
Server Capacities
A total of 32 server cabinets are available for the University‘s IT infrastructure. For High Performance Computing (HPC), there are 112 server cabinets, of which a maximum of 84 can be operated simultaneously. The data center provides a state-of-the-art environment for scientific computing.
Energy efficiency
With a Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) value of ≤ 1.15, the data center is one of the most energy-efficient ones in Germany. This has been achieved through a variety of measures, including energy-saving cooling with a closed water circuit and the utilization of waste heat for additional applications.
Security standards
The data center complies with DIN EN 50600 certification and is subject to availability classes VK2 and VK3. Battery storage, emergency power generators, early fire detection with a gas extinguishing system and a comprehensive access control system with multiple protection zones have been installed to ensure maximum operational safety.
Environmental sustainability
Photovoltaic panels on the roof reduce the need for external power, while the extensive green roof helps to reduce CO2 emissions and improve the microclimate. In addition, the use of permeable paving has been implemented in close consultation with the Environment Agency to minimize surface sealing.
Conclusion and outlook
With the construction of the new data center, JGU has realized a technologically and ecologically pioneering project. The timely completion of this highly complex construction project demonstrates the excellent cooperation between the university, the data center group and other project participants. An experienced operations manager working directly on site ensures the smooth running of the data center. Data center operation in accordance with DIN EN 50600 ensures that all relevant technical and operational infrastructure as well as security requirements are met. Continuous monitoring of the systems and efficient fault analysis enable any faults to be detected and rectified at an early stage - for optimized operation. With the implementation of the new data center infrastructure, JGU is ideally equipped for the computing power of the future.
