Part of a massive, multi-phase campus expansion in Calgary, this project involved the complete Mechanical BIM Modeling engineering, design, and coordination for the new Equinix CL3 facility. BIM Services supported this state-of-the-art, high-density, mission-critical data center by delivering resilient and efficient cooling, process piping, hydronic piping, and plumbing infrastructure engineered to support significant compute capacity in a prime Canadian region. The first building has had its quote submitted and accepted for the mechanical scope.
Project Summary
- Complete mechanical engineering, design, and coordination for the new CL3 data center facility
- High-capacity chilled water, process cooling, and process piping systems for optimal facility operations
- Complex hydronic piping networks for efficient thermal management across data halls and the central plant
- Comprehensive plumbing systems with detailed BIM coordination for domestic water and drainage
- Quality control and commissioning inclusive of extensive N+1 and 2N redundancy for cooling
Project Snapshot
| Scope | Mechanical (Process Piping, Hydronic Piping, Plumbing) |
| Location | Calgary, Alberta, Canada |
| General Contractor | AECOM (Major Projects) |
| Architect | Data Center Specialists (e.g., Gensler / CORGAN JV) |
Mechanical BIM Modeling for High-Density Cooling Infrastructure
A high-density, mission-critical data hall leaves no margin for cooling downtime. Our MEPF services team engineered and coordinated:
- Comprehensive mechanical systems, including high-capacity chilled water, process cooling, and process piping for optimal facility operations
- Complex hydronic piping networks engineered for efficient thermal management across the data halls and central plant
- Mechanical infrastructure sized and modeled to support significant compute capacity across the campus expansion
Plumbing Systems and Cross-Trade Coordination
Every mechanical BIM Modeling system on a data center campus has to align precisely with electrical infrastructure and structural elements. This work included:
- Comprehensive plumbing systems, including detailed BIM coordination for domestic water, drainage, and specialized systems
- Collaboration with critical trade partners to ensure perfect coordination between mechanical systems, electrical infrastructure, and structural elements
- Process piping and hydronic piping routed to align with the facility’s phased construction schedule
BIM Coordination, Clash Detection, and Fabrication-Ready Spool Drawings
Dense mechanical rooms and central plant piping runs demand disciplined BIM coordination paired with rigorous clash detection before fabrication. Key outcomes included:
- Process piping and hydronic piping systems resolved against electrical infrastructure and structural elements ahead of installation
- Fabrication-ready spool drawings prepared to streamline installation of complex piping runs
- Field-ready documentation supporting a smooth installation sequence across the phased campus expansion
Redundancy, Commissioning, and Sustainability
A mission-critical facility of this scale required rigorous testing and a long-term sustainability outlook. Our team:
- Managed quality control, testing, and commissioning of all mechanical components, inclusive of extensive N+1 and 2N redundancy for cooling
- Collaborated on sustainability measures to optimize energy consumption of the facility
- Targeted a high LEED rating and water efficiency goals across the CL3 campus expansion
The Equinix CL3 Data Center Campus Expansion reflects how BIM Services applies detailed mechanical BIM modeling, disciplined coordination, and precise spool drawings to deliver resilient, high-density cooling infrastructure for mission-critical facilities. For more examples of our work in this sector, explore our data center and mission-critical portfolio.
