Hardened multi story building addition includes pre-cast exterior that mimics existing architecture.
Building addition houses up to 8-2 MW generators. Critical silencers and acoustic treatment provides for near silent operation.
Expanded multi floor data center was reconfigured with strict hot/cold aisles, cable tray, fiber trough and color coded 2N electrical distribution.
Redundant generator switchgear ensures reliable and concurrently maintainable end-to-end power availability.
Compartmentalized battery rooms with remote operated switching enhances facility and operator safety.
UPS switchgear includes spares for future capacity expansion.
Generator plant features 2MW units with 80,000 gallon dedicated fuel supply. The system is expandable to 16MW (N+1).
Data Center Hardening and Expansion
Client: The Hartford Financial Services Group, Inc. (HIG)
Summary: SIGMA7 design group, a full-service integrated design firm specializing in data centers and mission-critical facilities, upgraded The Hartford Financial Services Group’s data center in central Connecticut to Tier III standards ensuring ongoing and future reliability and resilience without operational disruptions. This project demonstrates SIGMA7’s expertise in designing and delivering robust data center solutions.
The Hartford Financial Services Group (HIG), one of the largest international investment and insurance companies based in the United States contacted SIGMA7 design group to assist them with the consolidation of their enterprise data centers as well as the hardening, expansion, and upgrade of the existing aging enterprise data center.
After studying the existing physical infrastructure and analysis of their ongoing IT growth and expansion, the scope of the project was finalized. The project’s objective -- to enhance the data center’s resilience and reliability while increasing the power and cooling infrastructure capacity. The existing Tier I facility would be upgraded to a Tier III (concurrently maintainable) facility. The data center white space expanded to 60,000 SF. The live/online upgrade to the enterprise level data center facility included phased renovation and expansion of the entire two floor data center.
Installation of a new redundant heat rejection system that utilizes both water cooled and air cooled chillers, along with the enhancement and increase to the incoming electrical utility service capacity to 15MVA, also 2N redundant provided a solid foundation for the new physical plant.
The upgraded electrical and mechanical infrastructure is housed in a new dedicated 35,000 SF multi-story building addition for the new critical infrastructure. The electrical infrastructure, end-to-end 2N critical power. The mechanical infrastructure, based on N+2 redundancy is designed utilizing a new air-cooled chiller plant consisting of two (2) 500T units capable of providing free cooling. The waterless heat rejection plant maximizes the efficiency of annual cooling costs, eliminates reliance on water, and reduces sewage discharge. The air-cooled plant complements the existing water-based heat rejection system. One (1) of the centrifugal chillers, was determined to be nearing end-of-service-life and was replaced with a new reliable modern unit with increased operational efficiency.
Several interim power and cooling solutions were design and implemented as part of the project phasing to assure zero downtime.
A new dedicated, secure 7,500 SF consolidated tape vault, library and operations facility was also implemented.
Site design includes the relocation of on-site surface parking to accommodate the building expansion as well as the development of reinforced security rings to protect this critical asset.
Despite the significant upgrades, the live enterprise data center experienced zero production downtime during the implementation over a 5-year period and many phases of this complex project. This project included on-site coordination, full start-up, commissioning, and integrated testing by the SIGMA7 team.
