The new 43,000-square-foot, $30 million technology facility built for the University of Iowa by Minneapolis’ Ryan Companies has been awarded LEED Platinum status by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) – the ultimate standard for green building design.
“We are extremely proud to be part of a project where, in addition to reliability, energy efficiency and sustainability were key design goals,” said Chris Hardinger, vice president of Ryan’s Mission Critical sector. “The University of Iowa technology facility serves as testimony that data centers can be reliable and consume less of our planet’s resources.”
Completed in December of 2011 after three years of construction and seven years of planning, the facility will house and protect computing and network equipment that is vital to the operations of the university and its hospitals and clinics.
The data center in considered a “hardened” facility, designed to withstand an EF3 tornado, covered by a multi-layered roof that stands up to a snow load of 30 pounds per square foot, and equipped with concurrently maintainable building operation systems.
“Data centers are among the most energy-intensive facilities you’ll find on a campus. To build ours to LEED Platinum standards speaks volumes about the UI’s commitment to energy conservation and sustainability,” says University of Iowa president Sally Mason. “Our goals for a sustainable university are stated in our strategic plan and this major accomplishment significantly helps bring those aspirations to realty.”
