Exterior of building

Meta Fort Worth Data Center

Meta Fort Worth Data Center | Fort Worth, Texas

DPR is in the midst of a massive, multi-year new construction project in Fort Worth, Texas that is delivering major growth capacity for leading social media company Meta, formerly Facebook. Encompassing more than 2.5 million square feet spread over multiple buildings on the 170-acre site, construction on the Meta Data Center campus kicked off in 2015 and is scheduled for completion in 2023.

The campus adds significant data center capacity for Meta in Texas. Along with its data centers worldwide, it will help provide the infrastructure to bring products like WhatsApp, Instagram, Facebook and more to increasing numbers of people across the globe. The new campus supports Meta’s mission to give people the power to build community and bring the world closer together.

Exterior of building

Mission Critical Facility Expertise

DPR’s work on the Fort Worth campus includes five separate data centers that are being delivered over multiple phases, inclusive of rooftop air handling equipment, outdoor standby diesel generators and a separate electrical substation among various other components.

During the ongoing, multi-year construction effort, DPR has overcome an array of challenges to move the various projects forward. DPR project teams leveraged their mission critical facility expertise, virtual design and construction tools including extensive laser scanning efforts and various other tools to enhance efficiency and quality as they worked to deliver a world class campus complex.

The

Challenges

DPR project teams faced myriad challenges throughout design and construction of the multi-phased data center campus project.

These challenges have included everything from historical weather events to zero laydown area, labor challenges, aggressive schedules, and material shortages. The team additionally faced varying foundation challenges due to difficulties in attaining suitable loadbearing capacity for the structures. Finally, 2020 ushered in the global pandemic crisis, adding yet another hurdle to navigate.

Photo: DPR project teams faced myriad challenges throughout design and construction of the multi-phased data center campus project.

data center
data center
The

Challenges

DPR project teams faced myriad challenges throughout design and construction of the multi-phased data center campus project.

These challenges have included everything from historical weather events to zero laydown area, labor challenges, aggressive schedules, and material shortages. The team additionally faced varying foundation challenges due to difficulties in attaining suitable loadbearing capacity for the structures. Finally, 2020 ushered in the global pandemic crisis, adding yet another hurdle to navigate.

Photo: DPR project teams faced myriad challenges throughout design and construction of the multi-phased data center campus project.

The

Solutions

DPR has leveraged its mission critical facility expertise to effectively tackle diverse challenges on this new campus project. Virtual design and construction tools have proven to be particularly effective, according to DPR’s Andy Kirby. The team employed BIM and an extensive use of laser scanning to increase efficiency.

Photo: Encompassing more than 2.5 million square feet spread over multiple buildings on the 170-acre site, construction on the Facebook Data Center campus kicked off in 2015 and is scheduled for completion in 2023.

“We utilized laser scanning to verify installation of conduit and piping in accordance with the 3D model,” Kirby noted. MEP trade partners were involved with the creation of the 3D model early on. After DPR worked through the clash detection of the model to ensure that there were no major issues, the trades fabricated and installed their conduits/piping directly based on the 3D model.

Photo: DPR project teams leveraged their mission critical facility expertise, virtual design and construction tools including extensive laser scanning efforts and various other tools.

“We would then laser scan the installation of the materials and take that information and import it back into the model,” Kirby explained. “With this, we could compare the actual location with what it should have been in the model. The trades can then make any adjustments as needed prior to pouring concrete or closing up the second side of drywall.”

Photo: The new campus supports Facebook’s mission to give people the power to build community and bring the world closer together.

Inside of cafeteria area
inside of data center room
exterior of building's hallway
The

Solutions

Inside of cafeteria area

DPR has leveraged its mission critical facility expertise to effectively tackle diverse challenges on this new campus project. Virtual design and construction tools have proven to be particularly effective, according to DPR’s Andy Kirby. The team employed BIM and an extensive use of laser scanning to increase efficiency.

Photo: Encompassing more than 2.5 million square feet spread over multiple buildings on the 170-acre site, construction on the Facebook Data Center campus kicked off in 2015 and is scheduled for completion in 2023.

inside of data center room

“We utilized laser scanning to verify installation of conduit and piping in accordance with the 3D model,” Kirby noted. MEP trade partners were involved with the creation of the 3D model early on. After DPR worked through the clash detection of the model to ensure that there were no major issues, the trades fabricated and installed their conduits/piping directly based on the 3D model.

Photo: DPR project teams leveraged their mission critical facility expertise, virtual design and construction tools including extensive laser scanning efforts and various other tools.

exterior of building's hallway

“We would then laser scan the installation of the materials and take that information and import it back into the model,” Kirby explained. “With this, we could compare the actual location with what it should have been in the model. The trades can then make any adjustments as needed prior to pouring concrete or closing up the second side of drywall.”

Photo: The new campus supports Facebook’s mission to give people the power to build community and bring the world closer together.

inside of data center room
lobby sitting area with colorful art on the walls

The campus adds significant data center capacity for Meta in Texas.

Encompassing more than 2.5 million square feet spread over multiple buildings on the 170-acre site, construction on the Meta Data Center campus kicked off in 2015 and is scheduled for completion in 2023.

inside of data center room

The campus adds significant data center capacity for Meta in Texas.

lobby sitting area with colorful art on the walls

Encompassing more than 2.5 million square feet spread over multiple buildings on the 170-acre site, construction on the Meta Data Center campus kicked off in 2015 and is scheduled for completion in 2023.

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