Financial Services Firm Takes 1.2MW at Ascent's Chicago Data Center

Ascent and Carter Validus Mission Critical REIT announced TransUnion has taken a newly constructed CH2 Chicago data center suite. The credit and information management services provider has signed for 1.2 megawatts of capacity at the site.

Ascent collaborated with TransUnion to custom design the data center to suit its specific needs. The project was completed in seven months, from design to build-out, with the suite delivered to TransUnion in May 2014.

The Northlake, Illinois, data center is a 250,000 square foot multi-tenant facility. Carter Validus purchased it from Ascent in May for $211.7 million, but Ascent remained in charge of facility management.

Ascent offers a purpose-built "Dynamic Data Center Suite" product (customizable wholesale colocation) and shared infrastructure colocation suite (closer to retail colocation). Offering a blend of both wholesale and retail, as well as working with customers to customize space are two major trends in the wholesale market.

TransUnion is using a Dynamic Data Center Suite.

Each customer in the multi-tenant facility can have its own entrance, security access and shipping and receiving area, as well as dedicated mechanical and power infrastructure. The approach provides Ascent with the flexibility to offer different suite designs within the same property.

The data center offers free cooling for approximately 45 percent of the year, hot aisle containment and an on-site substation.

Other tenants at CH2 include the cable company Comcast Corp. and an unnamed national retail chain.

“The new data center represents a significant investment in the transformation of TransUnion’s technology and data center infrastructure and our growing commitment to efficient facilities,” said Josh Neyer, global head of data centers for TransUnion. “With this new environmentally friendly data center, we can expand capacity and better serve our customers. The partnership with Ascent and numerous other suppliers allowed us to successfully deploy a uniquely efficient space on a fast-tracked timeline.”

The Chicago market remains strong in both the city and the suburbs. Ascent, around since the late 90s, has built several data centers in the suburbs and announced its first facility in the city proper, CH3, last year.