Facebook Taps Emerson for Rapid Deployment Design

Facebook has chosen Emerson Network Power to help implement its vision for a "rapid deployment data center" (RDDC) that will combine factory-built components with lean construction techniques, the companies said today. The first implementation of the new concept will be Facebook's second data center building in Luleå, Sweden.

“Because of our relentless focus on efficiency, we are always looking for ways to optimize our data centers including accelerating build times and reducing material use,” said Jay Park, director of data center design at Facebook. “We are excited to work with Emerson to pilot the RDDC concept in Luleå and apply it at the scale of a Facebook data center.”

Emerson will deliver over 250 shippable modules to Luleå, including power skids, evaporative air handlers, a water treatment plant, and data center superstructure solutions. Facebook says the new approach to data center construction, which Data Center Knowledge described in detail in February, will be more efficient, use less material and be faster to deploy.

Facebook likens its RDDC approach to the snap-together furniture developed by Swedish retailer IKEA. The Facebook project builds on industry innovations in modular deployment, and could benefit Emerson if the concepts gain wider adoption as companies seek to speed time-to-market for data center construction projects.

“We worked with Facebook to understand their wants and needs, and we collectively developed an integrated, cost-effective, tailored solution,” said Scott Barbour, global business leader of Emerson Network Power. “This collaboration with Facebook illustrates our competencies in modular construction and showcases next-generation thinking. Emerson is able to deliver innovative, global, turnkey data center solutions comprising design, construction, critical infrastructure equipment, building management system, and services.”

The RDDC design will eliminate Facebook’s distinctive penthouse cooling system, which uses the entire second story of the building to process fresh air to cool its servers. This will dramatically shrink the amount of real estate required for cooling.