Case Study: Seamless Precast Concrete Data Center Provides a Cohesive Campus Aesthetic

September 14, 2022

Vantage VA12 Data Center in Sterling, Virginia, was tasked to be built so that it could seamlessly match the buildings present on its surrounding campus. This building also needed to be easily incorporated into future expansions featuring the glass and metal features already present in the existing aesthetic. Additionally, the design team was required to make construction speed a top priority without interrupting the ongoing daytime operations inside the building during construction, as the building still needed to be utilized by the tenant.

As the second building on this campus, precast cladding was chosen as part of the building envelope solution to accelerate construction and meet budget requirements.

The Team

  • Owner: Vantage Data Centers, Sterling, VA
  • PCI-Certified Precast Producer: Fabcon Precast, Mahonoy City, PA
  • Engineer of Record: Paradigm Structural Engineers, Inc., San Francisco, CA
  • Specialty Engineer: Urban Engineering & Associates, Chantilly, VA
  • Architect: Corgan, Culver City, CA
  • General Contractor: Holder Construction, Dallas, TX

The Solution

Precast was chosen as the most cost-effective building material for the data center’s exterior envelope. Not only was it a solid economical choice, but precast could bring the design to life and meet 100% of the owner’s high-priority needs.

The design team utilized building information modeling (BIM) from the beginning to coordinate and streamline complex penetrations of electrical equipment into stacked electrical rooms. The versatility of precast allowed for precast panels to be poured to match specifications where windows and other punch-outs were or weren’t needed. The design team also integrated the general contractor’s team into their weekly meetings toward the end of the project to ensure all the hyper-specific needs for a safe and secure data center were being met.

Download the Case Study to see how the project team leaned on precast’s inherent efficiency to meet the building owner and occupants’ top priorities: speed to market and security.

Vantage_CaseStudy_Thumbnail_trans@2x-1What’s Inside:

  • The project’s key details, including the scope, timeline, and team members
  • The solution that involved a BIM coordination model from project onset
  • The results and how precast saved critical time and money for the team

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The resulting data center didn’t require insulation in exterior walls, saving substantial costs, and the office spaces could be built near the data center, ensuring a continuous and unbroken precast span. The completed building mimics the finish and color of its surroundings and was completed in a cost and time-effective manner.

Explore the strength and resilience of precast concrete, so you can determine if it’s right for your next project. To learn more about the benefits of precast concrete, check out our resources below.

Blog: The Benefits of Using Precast Concrete for Data Center Construction
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Guide: The General Contractor’s Guide to Precast Concrete
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Blog: Advantages of Precast Concrete Construction on Project Timelines Compared to Traditional Construction Methods
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Blog: Why Precast Concrete Is the Best Choice for Your Next Construction Project
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Achieve More With Precast

In its completion, Vantage VA12 Data Center stands as an example of the incomparable benefits of precast concrete for data center construction. From accelerated construction, increased cost savings, and structural versatility—precast allows for a data center and office space to be housed in the same envelope yet remain safe, secure, and structurally seamless to the surrounding campus.

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Download the full case study to see more of The Icon and get a detailed breakdown of how PCI Mid-Atlantic helped create this record-breaking building.

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Keep precast concrete and the Mid-Atlantic region’s precast businesses in mind for your next project. Find helpful design tools, project resources, and detailed information on working with precast in our comprehensive Solutions Center.

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