Missouri Data Bunker Gets Hospital Tenant

Hospital services company PHNS of Dallas announced today that it would migrate a "significant portion" of its national hospital data center operations to the SpringNet Underground, a bunker-like facility located 85 feet underground in a limestone cave near Springfield, Missouri. PHNS said the new facility would ensure that its hospital customers' patient information and technology operations can withstand hurricanes, tornados, floods, earthquakes and other disasters.

SpringNet is a 56,500 square foot data facility constructed in 2000 in an underground mine. The facility features 25 to 35 foot ceilings, and a year-round temperature between 60 and 64 degrees Fahrenheit. It is among a small number of working underground data bunker projects in the US.

"PHNS' new subterranean data center will offer unsurpassed protection for hospitals' vital patient information, and it will ensure that hospitals continue to provide healthcare services despite hurricanes, tornados and other disasters," said Chris Walls, president of PHNS' IT division. "Our new 'digital fortress' will provide our hospitals with unparalleled data center reliability, responsiveness and flexibility, plus improved data backup capability."

PHNS' new data center will create healthcare technology job opportunities in the Springfield, Missouri area, and PHNS is working with Ozarks Technical Community College and other local colleges and universities to obtain graduates with the necessary technical expertise.