University of Rochester Data Center

The University of Rochester is transforming the former IBM facility at Canal Ponds Business Park into an advanced, 188,475 SF Tier 3 data center to support its advanced computing and research activities, including the Laboratory for Laser Energetics and the UR Medical Center. CHA was engaged to provide professional engineering services for the design and implementation of various upgrades.

The project’s mission: to elevate reliability, enhance redundancy, and align the center’s systems with modern standards for safety, compliance, and operational efficiency. The transformation began with detailed site assessments to identify system deficiencies and utility compliance gaps. These findings informed a series of targeted upgrades, including the replacement of the Emergency Diesel Generator (EDG) control system, generator step-up transformers, and key instrument transformers. The project also introduced a modernized protection relay and communication architecture.

With these enhancements, the University of Rochester is reimagining the facility as a cornerstone of academic and scientific excellence for decades.