Ericsson Canada

Global Information, Communications and Technology Centre

HH Angus served as Prime Consultant on Ericsson’s greenfield modular data centre testing facility in Montreal. This was one of three such sites for Ericsson oriented to telecommunications research and development; the first two in Sweden were operational in late 2014.

As Prime Consultant, HH Angus engaged and oversaw the structural engineers, civil engineers and architect, as well as the noise, vibration and air quality consultants.

The Centre, in Vaudreuil-Dorion, was built with modularity and scalability in mind, and to serve as the global facilities’ data centre.

Situated close to the firm’s R & D Hubs, the new facility was intended to connect 24,000+ Ericsson engineers worldwide, provide greater efficiency in research and development, and allow customers to connect remotely for testing interoperability in real time - for trials, early access, and new business services.

The Quebec site totalled 40,000 m2, of which 20,000 m2 was built out. The project included a 3530 m2 administration and support building. The company estimated that the combination of architecture, design and location would result in a significant reduction of 40% in energy consumption. Heat recovery strategies were implemented, such as waste process heat used to warm the building. In addition, a rainwater harvesting system provided water for both irrigation and process cooling.

One of the key challenges met on this project was managing communications. Four nations were involved (Canada, Sweden, the United States and the United Kingdom), and the team was spread over seven time zones, from Phoenix to Stockholm. While English was the working language of the project team, subgroups within it were variously working in Swedish, French and English.

PROJECT FEATURES
Size: 430,560 ft2 | Status: Completed 2016

LOCATION
Montréal, Quebec

KEY SCOPE ELEMENTS
Implemented innovative engineering and architecture design to reduce energy consumption by an estimated 40%

— Image courtesy of Ericsson

Confidential Client

Data Centre Expansion

Data centres operate 24/7. This large Tier 3 facility expansion required defined levels of redundancy to ensure the most complete reliability possible.

Our mechanical and electrical design included a central cooling plant and emergency generation system to support the critical data floors. The development involved a two-phase ‘design and construct’ concept, which was incorporated into the base design and operating strategy. The project was executed on time and within budget.

Mechanical Design

The Phase 1 concept required 3 X 750 ton centrifugal chillers, electrically powered with variable frequency drives (VFD’s) and incorporating N+1 redundancy. The chilled water distribution system was based on a primary and secondary concept with a ring main for increased redundancy, which allowed for back feeding in the event of hardware failure. All pumps have VFD’s for slow start and energy efficiency. Transformers were used to step down from 600V to 460V to further increase reliability on the VFD’s. The condenser water system was based on induced draft with counter flow cooling towers with VFD’s on the fans and utilizing tower free cooling for energy efficiency.

The design of the cooling system provided for Phase 2 expansion and the ability to implement an additional 2250 tons of cooling through 3 X 750 ton chillers, with improved redundancy to (N+2). The mechanical piping and ventilation design was carried out using Bentleys Autoplant 3D software to ensure functionality of the equipment and piping layout design. The 3D modeling was used successfully by the Constructor and integrated into their BIM (Building Information Modeling) program.

Electrical Design

The electrical engineering design provided for a 50,000 ft2 raised floor computer area serviced by redundant feeds from the existing 27.6kV distribution to redundant 600V distribution systems. Four 2 MW parallel synchronized diesel generators with capacity to increase to six; two systems of four redundant 750 kVA UPS modules; and state-of-the-art life safety, alarm monitoring, and security systems.

Subsequent upgrades to the facility included installation of two 3000A Static switches to the two parallel redundant 750kVA UPS systems, configured to not only permit seamless transfer of critical loads between utility and emergency power in the event one UPS system fails, but also to permit seamless transfer to the surviving UPS system. HH Angus functioned as Prime Consultant and Electrical Engineer for a series of reports, studies, distribution upgrades and raised floor expansions at the site.

The Data Centre’s diesel generator system included three buried storage tanks, each with a capacity of 75,000 litres, a generator ventilation system and diesel exhaust for four 2MW generators.

ICT Scope

Our communications group was involved with multiple communications projects for the expansion, starting from the structured cabling system, DAS –Distributed Antenna System, and building systems LAN/WLAN design. We provided a detail compliance analysis of the new proposed sites with references to the TIA 942 Data Centre standard.

As a part of the DAS, we provided an unbiased, independent assessment of the current data centre cabling infrastructure performance, as well as design recommendations and specifications to eliminate both scheduled and unscheduled downtime. The assessment included a comprehensive computer room site inspection, determination of the full scope of the telecommunications needs, design of a suitable structured cabling system, and the creation of written reports, prints and specification documents.

SERVICES
Mechanical Engineering | Electrical Engineering | Communications Design

PROJECT FEATURES
Status: Completed 2010

KEY SCOPE ELEMENTS
Comprehensive assessment of existing IT infrastructure | Engineering for structured cabling systems, DAS and building LAN/WLAN design | Identified full scope of telecommunication requirements | N+1 redundancy | 3 X 750 ton centrifugal chillers powered by VFD's | Multiple communications projects

Designing for Uptime

Reliability was improved with underground remote water storage to support a 24-hour cooling tower make up in the event of supply water failure.

Electrical reliability was achieved through the installation of 6 X 2 MW diesel generators (N+1 redundancy), and a fuel storage facility consisting of 3 X 75,000L underground tanks.

University of Waterloo | Wilfrid Laurier University

Centre for International Governance Innovation (CIGI) Campus

“We asked for a design that sets us apart and fosters collaboration and intellectual creativity. We are very satisfied with the marvellous building that emerged.”

- Fred Kuntz, VP Public Affairs, CIGI

This new construction 100,000 ft2building is located within the CIGI campus in Waterloo, Ontario, and consists of tiered classrooms, offices and a two-storey auditorium. The Campus was honoured with the International Award for Architecture by The Royal Institution for British Architecture along with 12 other buildings globally.

HH Angus provided complete electrical, communication and vertical transportation consulting services for the new Balsillie School of International Affairs. This educational facility is in partnership with Wilfrid Laurier University, the University of Waterloo and the Centre for International Governance Innovation. It offers Masters and PhD programs.

Our Electrical scope included designing the building’s power distribution, fire alarm, emergency lighting, communications, audio visual and security systems.

A UPS system backs up the building server room to ensure critical research data was not lost during a utility power interruption. An emergency diesel generator was installed to support the essential loads throughout the building. Low voltage lighting controls and occupancy sensors were implemented as an energy savings measure.

The architect designed a large percentage of the ceiling spaces as exposed concrete. This presented an interesting challenge to our engineering design team, who delivered a solution incorporating all the electrical, audiovisual and communication services without affecting the architectural design intent.

SERVICES
Electrical Engineering | Vertical Transportation Design

PROJECT FEATURES
Size:100,000 ft2 | Status: Completed 2012

LOCATION
Waterloo, Ontario

KEY SCOPE ELEMENTS
UPS System | Emergency diesel generator | Power distribution, fire alarm, emergency lighting communications, AV and security systems | Governor General’s Medal winner for Architecture | Exceeds LEED standards, but is not LEED certified

TELUS Canada

Rimouski Super Internet Data Centre (SIDC)

“With our new Internet Data Centre, companies can now harness the power of managed hosting and cloud computing solutions that are not only reliable, secure and flexible, but also hosted, managed and delivered in Canada.”

— François Gratton, President of TELUS Quebec and Atlantic

The new TELUS Tier III design-certified centre was the first TELUS Internet Data Centre built to LEED® Gold standards. It is directly connected to the national TELUS IP network and interconnects into existing data centres across the country, creating what has been described as the most advanced and regionally diverse computing infrastructure in Canada.

The Intelligent Internet Data Centre incorporates innovative, non-traditional solutions, such as a closed-loop cooling system that provides unparalleled operating efficiency. The first of its kind in the world, this system is 180 times more efficient than a traditional cooling plant.

TELUS reports a PUE* of 1.15 for the Rimouski SIDC, which put TELUS at the forefront of the industry. The new data centre has a modular design, enabling TELUS to rapidly expand capacity and to tailor its offerings to the most advanced and efficient technologies available.

HH Angus acted as the Owner’s Commissioning QC Representative. Our responsibilities included review of the commissioning plan, schedule and test scripts prepared by Commissioning Agent; site observation reports to the stakeholder team - these covered the 27.6kV incoming switchgear complete with automatic transfer scheme, diesel rotary UPS system, automatic transfer switches, 600V distribution switchboards, Electrical Monitoring System (EMS), ISOT and Black Start Testing. In addition, HH Angus was also the Owner's Representative for the Uptime Institute On- Site Tier III Accreditation Audit.

We’re proud that we won this assignment—as the Owner’s Commissioning Rep for TELUS’ first purpose-built Data Centre—thanks to our experience in data centre construction and our excellent communications with the client.

* Power Usage Effectiveness is the Uptime Institute’s classification system, an internationally recognized benchmark to assess the reliability of data centres.

SERVICES
Owner’s Representative through Commissioning | Owner’s Representative for Uptime Institute On-site Tier III accreditation audit

PROJECT FEATURES
Status: Completed 2012

LOCATION
Rimouski, Quebec

KEY SCOPE ELEMENTS
Overall review of commissioning plans and schedule | Site observation reports

Confidential Client

Data Centre Refresh & Expansion

This 1992-designed data centre had reached its capacity in power, white floor space and cooling. With hot spots and legacy equipment throughout, the entire power plant needed replacement.

This was a major project to conduct on a live data centre for a premier financial institution. From 2008 to 2013, HH Angus was involved in more than 15 projects on the site. Starting with “bridge” programs to get the data centre through difficult transitions in data, power and cooling deficiencies, to the completion of a 6 MW power upgrade with new power plant and cooling capabilities that allowed for the complete removal of the aged UPS and generator systems. This required hundreds of hours of planning and phased construction, including temporary generators and additional UPSs.

As Prime Consultant for all the projects, HH Angus was responsible for structural, architectural, noise abatement and air emissions subconsultants. We managed the contracts and contractors for the mission critical facility - everything from MOP, design, schedules, budgets and strategies planning were within our role and responsibilities.

The largest single project was $80M in value and involved an expansion with new generators, UPS, batteries and distribution gear. The new facility was then tied into the existing building infrastructure, path by path, until the entire building was brought over to the new infrastructure.

Reconfiguring the rack layouts assisted in optimizing cooling capabilities, upgrading capacity of undersized CRAC units, while at the same time implementing tighter cooling tactics with hot and cold aisle and ducted returns.

We then converted the entire DX building plant to a chilled water system in a 100% loaded 7/24 data centre, providing large savings in capital expense and lower operating costs by over $100,000 per year. The program was incorporated into a roof replacement and CRAC equipment refresh that saved more than $1 million in deferred capital expenses.

HH Angus was deeply involved in supporting the confidential data centre’s strategy over six years. Our roles included Strategic Planning, Feasibility Analysis, Prime Consulting, Procurement, MEP Engineering, and Commissioning services. The projects were many and varied, from condition assessment reports and feasibility studies, to a significant number of small to large projects to meet the challenges of rapidly evolving data centre business needs.

SERVICES
Prime Consultant | Strategic Planning | Mechanical Engineering | Electrical Engineering | Communications Design

PROJECT FEATURES
Status: Completed 2013

KEY SCOPE ELEMENTS

Introduced multiple projects over five years to replace entire power plant in a live, mission-critical data centre | ‘Bridge’ projects required to support transitions in data, power and cooling deficiencies | 6 MW power upgrade | Conversion of DX building plant to chilled water system, resulting in large CAPEX savings and $100K+ OPEX savings