Hyperscale-ready data centre moves to fit-out

Macquarie Data Centres has topped out its latest construction project, Intellicentre 3 East (IC3E), a hyperscale-ready data centre in Sydney’s Macquarie Park.

The structural build was successfully achieved amid COVID-19 lockdowns and distancing requirements. The internal fit-out is currently underway and will feature the latest in data centre technology delivered by the lead engineering consultant on the project, HDR | Hurley Palmer Flatt.

IC3E’s state-of-the-art cooling system will not only protect servers within the data centre from extreme external temperatures, but will also leverage the outside climate to deliver one of the most energy-efficient data centres in Sydney.

HDR | Hurley Palmer Flatt Director Peter Gaston said: “IC3E uses a sophisticated, alternative cooling method to standard chillers to protect stored information from worse-case scenario temperatures. At a time of extreme weather events brought on by climate change, this gives end users with highly valuable data peace of mind. At the same time, the data centre community has a massive responsibility to improve the efficiency of its assets, and with a PUE of 1.28, IC3E is a stand-out data centre that will appeal to environmentally conscious end users, from hyperscalers to retail customers.”

Throughout the coronavirus pandemic, data centres have been elevated into a new asset class. With more reliance on data centres and the cloud to work, learn and socially interact, they have become a key driver for economic growth.

IC3E is located in the Sydney North Zone, an area rich in cloud ecosystems and connectivity. It is a cornerstone of Macquarie Data Centres’ local data centre campus, which supports the local economy, as well as provides a home for global hyperscalers, software-as-a-service providers and multinational enterprises wanting to access the Australian market.

The Australian Government is a key client, with 42% of federal agencies leveraging Macquarie Telecom Group’s cybersecurity, secure internet gateway (SIG) and cloud services.

Construction has been recognised as essential under the Australian COVID-19 regime. This classification has enabled Macquarie Data Centres and HDR | Hurley Palmer Flatt Group — the engineering provider for all MDC projects — to continue to deliver much-needed facilities throughout 2020.

Among these is the IC5 data centre in Canberra, due to top out within weeks, a notable effort according to Macquarie Telecom Group Chairman Peter James.

“Delivering not one but two data centres during a pandemic is no mean feat. Gartner’s latest forecast shows that spending on Australian data centre infrastructure dipped 10.4% in 2020. Macquarie Data Centres has bucked that trend and has invested more than $100 million into data centre infrastructure across this period,” he said.

Intellicentre 3 (IC3) Data Centre facts and figures:

• AU$85 million — stage 1 investment for IC3 build
• 43 MW — size and scale of Macquarie Park Data Centre Campus once IC3 is fully complete · 1.28 – power usage effectiveness (PUE)
• 1200 Australian jobs created throughout the build
• 1903 — number of concrete trucks to date
• 780 tonnes of steel reinforcement used
• 35.5 km — electrical cabling completed thus far.
   

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/Bokehstore