The 240,000 SF STACK data center sets the stage for future innovators. Situated in the heart of Silicon Valley, the facility serves 32MW of capacity to one of the most important and capacity-constrained data center regions in the world.

Integration

SVY01B is in the Transit Employment Center, an area designated to attract and retain businesses north of Downtown San Jose. Because of this, design quality and sensitivity to surroundings was paramount. The facility’s design was vetted in a neighborhood review session and consciously responded to the urban context and the needs of the Center, ensuring that the facility would be more than just a bland box.

Equitable Communities

SVY01B is in an urban, transit-oriented area with a residential community across the boulevard. The planning process included public meetings for residents with planning officials, during which several design elements emerged such as community parklets and other varied amenities.

Ecosystems

The project meets or exceeds LEED requirements for sensitive land protection of a previously developed site through thoughtful landscape choices and a building scaled for the community. A tree survey was completed with recommendations for site development. The design incorporates low-maintenance features that restore natural habitat and enhance the facility and its connection to the surrounding ecosystem, such as native and drought-tolerant plantings.

Water

Ten of eleven LEED strategies were incorporated, including indoor and outdoor water use reduction, cooling tower water reuse, and water metering. In addition, thoughtful coordination was required to design with respect to the challenges of an existing floodplain.

Economy

The world-class facility is designed to be flexible as STACK’s client base grows in the region.

Energy

The three-story, LEED-Silver building provides 32 megawatts total spread over four data halls, with each hall housing roughly 1,000 racks. The mechanical system boasts water-cooled chillers on the roof, feeding fan walls blowing conditioned air across the data halls. The facility’s power is backed up by twenty diesel fuel emergency generators situated on both ends of the building, providing block-redundancies for the data halls.

Well-being

Delivering a safe product for all occupants was essential to the project. Designers worked with STACK and their Critical Operations teams to eliminate the need for high-risk activities. Building security was also essential; the facility includes a security guard desk and access control measures.

Resources

End-wall mesh screens, backlit at night, and the building’s multi-colored modular stucco paneling add dimension and feature shearing patterns.

Change

Project resilience is paramount and mission-critical for STACK. Its modular and flexible design allows for change and adaptations over time. The X-brace frames are exposed to convey this message and add to the visual interest desired by the city.