A stride has been taken toward bolstering Vancouver’s digital infrastructure as the Spencer Building Carrier Hotel has secured all necessary permits to commence construction of its state-of-the-art data centre.
This monumental project, planted in the heart of Vancouver’s iconic Harbour Centre, is scheduled to start construction in August, with an anticipated completion by the end of 2024.
The Spencer Building Carrier Hotel collaborated with Harbour Centre to repurpose the historic building, an architectural gem first constructed in 1926.
“It’s important to us to do things the right way and to go through the proper processes, as a sign of respect to such a historic building,” stated Harbour Centre’s Antonio Dal Sasso last year. “This is a heritage building that has served as one of the city’s business hubs for over 100 years.”
The ambitious endeavour marries heritage architecture with advanced IT infrastructure and connectivity services, bringing to the fore a fusion of history and cutting-edge technology.
“The arrival of Spencer Building Carrier Hotel in Vancouver is a testament to our commitment to offering premiere data centre services that are economically viable for our customers and backed by the rich connectivity legacy of Harbour Centre,” stated Chris Jones, Director of Data Center Infrastructure and Operations at Spencer Building Carrier Hotel.
“We are proud to merge the history and experience of Harbour Centre as Vancouver’s primary interconnection hub with our trailblazing innovations and customized service offerings,” he added.
Envisioned as a premier hub for interconnection in western Canada, the Spencer Building Carrier Hotel will serve as the main gateway to the US and APAC. Backed by access to all major Canadian telecommunications providers, Tier 1 network operators, and peering exchanges, including a direct connect to VANIX, this facility is primed to cement itself as the primary connectivity hub in the downtown Vancouver core.
“This unique blend will redefine the data centre experience,” believes Jones, “helping us empower businesses and service providers of all sizes.”
The 43,000 square foot data centre will run 20,000 feet of fibres across multiple floors of the Spencer Building, expanding on 60,000 square feet currently housed at the location.
In a nod toward sustainability, the energy-efficient design of the facility aims to capitalize on free cooling opportunities.
“At its core, the robust concrete infrastructure will provide significant flexibility in equipment design and deployment strategies,” a description reads online. “In addition to ample storage for customer needs and 24/7 on-site staff, the facility will also include industry-leading highly efficient mechanical systems, making it a more environmentally conscious space for the community.”
With a total of 10MW of critical power when fully built and the ability to support up to 20kW per cabinet for additional high-density applications, Spencer Building Carrier Hotel “is the most power-dense option in downtown Vancouver.”
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