Edison, NJ

IO Data Centers

This complex warehouse conversion required an experienced contractor with data center design, installation, and commissioning expertise.

Exterior view of the IO building in Edison, NJ

Value Delivered

Forest Electric New Jersey (Forest NJ), acting as prime contractor, provided electrical contracting services to help IO Data Centers convert existing warehouse space into usable data center space. Forest NJ’s extensive experience with data centers allowed them to optimize the design, installation, and commissioning of the new facility. Additionally, Forest NJ’s on-site BIM designers were instrumental in the timely provision of accurate coordinated drawings that helped minimize construction delays and save money.

Client Objectives

IO Data Centers wanted to convert a large warehouse into a data center by installing 140 modular data units and accompanying infrastructure. Minimizing impact on the existing facility as well as its neighboring tenants was a core requirement of the project, as was an installation that would allow for flexibility in future expansion. The site was planned to eventually include a 180,000-square-foot office space and an additional 550,000-square-feet of data center space.

Solutions

During the first phase of the project, Forest NJ executed the renovation of 187,000 square feet of existing data center space. They then led the design and installation of electrical infrastructure capable of supporting an additional aggregate critical load of 10MW.

The electrical infrastructure components installed included:

  • Eight 13.8KV, 2.5MW generators
  • Four 4000A, 13.8KV unit substations
  • Four 13.8KV switches
  • A 13.8KV paralleling gear with 480V switchboards and related distribution equipment
  • Layout and coordination of more than 46, 13.8KV feeders 
  • Design and installation of a new fire alarm system

Client Background

IO Data Centers was a colocation provider and pioneer in modular data center manufacturing that owned and operated data centers in multiple locations worldwide. IO was purchased by Iron Mountain in 2018.