Building a Flexible Model for Data Growth Across Markets
In the highly competitive data center market, scalability and speed are critical. NTT engaged HED to create a prototype facility that could be adapted across multiple sites and markets, balancing efficiency with architectural presence. The result is a 245,000-square-foot design in Itasca, Illinois, that delivers both operational rigor and contextual sensitivity, setting a standard for future NTT developments nationwide.
The project began with a significant challenge: the existing parcel had tight size constraints. To meet the demand for capacity within these limits, the team refined the prototype layout, producing a more efficient equipment yard arrangement. Modular UPS rooms were reduced in size and connected directly to the building, optimizing available space and allowing the site to accommodate two separate buildings with 36 MW of planned IT each. This streamlined approach created a scalable model, one that could be adapted quickly to meet tenant demand without requiring full upfront investment.
Speed of delivery was equally important. HED completed the prototype design in just ten weeks, producing a core and shell design with an initial 6 MW of IT power. This strategy enabled phased development, reducing capital investment at the outset while allowing the site to expand as future tenant requirements emerged. Already, the model has been successfully adapted for new facilities in Phoenix and Chicago, serving as proof of concept for NTT’s national growth.
Context also shaped the design. Located in a prominent corporate office park, the Itasca facility was the first data center in its setting, and expectations for architectural quality were high. To meet this challenge, the design employs contrasting textures, patterns, and colors to add visual interest where visibility matters most. Distinctive elements—including a bold NTT-blue frame at the main entrance, blue-tinted curtainwall glass, striped stair towers, and patterned concrete—give the building a recognizable identity. These features have since become design standards across NTT Global Data Centers Americas projects, reinforcing a consistent brand image from Illinois to Arizona, California, and Oregon.
Technically, the facility is designed to deliver resilience and efficiency at scale. Each computer room provides 6 MW of capacity, subdividable into 2 MW increments, with space for 850 IT cabinets operating at an average of 7kW each. The site supports 36 MW of generator power, with waterless cooling provided through pumped refrigerant economizers and condensers. Designed for 99.999% uptime, the building aligns with ISO 50001 energy management standards.
The project’s contextual design earned unanimous approval from both the Village of Itasca and the Hamilton Lakes Property Owners Association—an outcome not always guaranteed in suburban markets. By combining technical innovation with architectural sensitivity, the CH-1 Data Center has become a model for replication, proving that high-capacity data facilities can be both efficient and visually compelling.
