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Powering performance in a constrained footprint.
The Spencer Building Powered Shell transformed an existing downtown Vancouver property into a multi-phase Tier II data centre designed for an ultimate capacity of 8 MW. Supporting both colocation and dedicated tenant deployments, the facility delivers scalable, resilient infrastructure within a highly constrained urban site while accommodating a range of rack densities and evolving tenant requirements.
Built for reliability.
The facility is supported by a robust power infrastructure designed for phased expansion to the ultimate build-out capacity. It also features utility service, standby generation, and critical power distribution infrastructure designed to enable phased expansion to the ultimate build-out capacity.
Critical power, cooling, fire protection, and building systems were carefully coordinated to ensure reliable operation across multiple phases of development while preserving expansion capability.
Powering performance in a constrained footprint.
The Spencer Building Powered Shell transformed an existing downtown Vancouver property into a multi-phase Tier II data centre designed for an ultimate capacity of 8 MW. Supporting both colocation and dedicated tenant deployments, the facility delivers scalable, resilient infrastructure within a highly constrained urban site while accommodating a range of rack densities and evolving tenant requirements.
Built for reliability.
The facility is supported by a robust power infrastructure designed for phased expansion to the ultimate build-out capacity. It also features utility service, standby generation, and critical power distribution infrastructure designed to enable phased expansion to the ultimate build-out capacity.
Critical power, cooling, fire protection, and building systems were carefully coordinated to ensure reliable operation across multiple phases of development while preserving expansion capability.
Cooling with precision.
The mechanical plant was designed to support phased expansion and align infrastructure investment with operational demand. Phase I introduced three air-cooled chillers to support initial operations. The planned Phase II expansion will add two additional chillers, increasing cooling capacity and enhancing operational resilience as the facility grows.
The standby power system was similarly designed with future expansion in mind. Existing generators support current operations, while a planned additional generator will further enhance redundancy and support future load growth.
Close integration between the electrical and mechanical systems was required to coordinate generator operation, cooling plant controls, emergency sequences, and future capacity expansion. The facility also incorporates advanced fire detection and suppression systems, including VESDA early-warning smoke detection and a pre-action sprinkler system, providing a layered fire protection strategy suited to a mission-critical environment.
Maximizing every inch.
Significant site constraints required careful planning and coordination to efficiently integrate power distribution equipment, cooling infrastructure, standby generation, fuel systems, telecommunications pathways, and life-safety systems within the existing building footprint and limited roof area.
Extensive coordination among the design and construction teams enabled the successful implementation of complex mechanical and electrical infrastructure while preserving flexibility for future expansion and tenant fit-outs.
Through strategic planning and phased execution, the Spencer Building now provides a scalable and resilient platform for high-performance digital infrastructure in the heart of downtown Vancouver.
