DLR Frankfurt Data Centre Campus

Project Description

The FRA19 & 57 facility is located on the former Neckermann Headquarters site in East Frankfurt, where Digital Realty is building a state-of-the-art Data Centre campus, Digital Park Fechenheim. This campus will include 11 new Data Centres (FRA17-FRA27) with a total IT area of approximately 100,000 m². The FRA19 project will be equipped with an IT power of 9.87MW, split between two data halls located on the ground floor level and with approximately 9300m2 commercial office space spread out on the remaining 4 floor levels above.

The FRA18-22 building (the existing Eiermann building) will house five state-of-the-art Data Centres. This design project focuses on the western section of the building, which forms FRA19. The project involves repurposing the existing building to accommodate a data centre section with supporting technical rooms and spaces on Levels 0 and 1, and office floors and a canteen space on the remaining floors above.

Ethos Input

Ethos provided the full ICT, mechanical and electrical design services for the project's transition from RIBA stage 1 (feasibility study) to Stage 2. Ethos also provided the LEED scorecard to achieve a Silver rating during Stage 1. The design covered the FRA19 and 57 internal fit-out design. The design had to be coordinated with the existing building site services, the heritage authorities and taking on board lessons learnt from the campus’s completed building sections and projects.

Unique / Key Features

The former Neckermann building, designed by architect Egon Eiermann, is a listed heritage monument at the State Office Hesse for the Preservation of Monuments and holds a rich history for the city of Frankfurt. The conversion and conservation of features of the building is a challenge that is being overcome with the coordination efforts of the full design team and client stakeholders on this project.