Shaping a Resilient Digital Infrastructure for the Midwest
In Omaha, Nebraska, a downtown high-rise once used for traditional office functions has been transformed into a state-of-the-art data center serving the growing Midwest interconnection market. News-Press & Gazette Company partnered with HED to lead the renovation of the 1623 Farnam building, creating multi-tenant computing space with concurrently maintainable infrastructure.
Situated at a major carrier hub, the facility provides access to more than 50 telecommunications providers, making it an attractive option for tenants seeking a reliable, carrier-rich environment for their operations. Yet its downtown context posed challenges. Unlike greenfield data centers with ample space, this retrofit had to work within the footprint of a high-rise, requiring creative solutions to introduce robust, scalable systems into a constrained structure—all while keeping the building operational.
HED’s design strategy focused on controlled, phased growth. From day one, the facility was structured to support scalability, enabling the operator to expand capacity without disrupting tenants. This approach required close collaboration with the owner, contractor, and vendors to create a cost-effective, reliable system that could be repeated and expanded as demand increased.
Critical infrastructure was completely overhauled. Electric and district chilled water services were replaced with significantly larger systems sized for future capacity. Redundant chilled water feeds were routed into the building at separate entry points, allowing concurrent maintenance without downtime. A roof-mounted fluid cooler plant enables air-side economization during cooler months, reducing reliance on mechanical cooling and improving energy efficiency.
On the power side, the design introduced a scalable diesel generator plant with an ultimate capacity of 6 MW, paired with a distributed redundant UPS system scalable to 4 MW. Together, these systems provide resilient, flexible power distribution to critical IT loads while supporting continuous uptime. A new building automation system and electrical power monitoring system provide comprehensive visibility into mechanical and electrical operations, allowing the operator to track performance, manage efficiency, and monitor power usage effectiveness (PUE).
Executing such an extensive upgrade in a live facility required precision. Construction and system cut-overs were carefully sequenced to maintain service for existing tenants throughout the renovation. Each step of the infrastructure replacement was designed with risk mitigation in mind, minimizing exposure during transitions and supporting continuity of operations.
The Summit Data Center at 1623 Farnam is now positioned as a premier interconnection hub in the Midwest. With scalable systems, robust redundancy, and energy-efficient strategies, the renovated facility combines reliability with adaptability, providing tenants confidence today and a clear path for future growth. For Omaha’s growing role in digital infrastructure, it stands as both a technical and strategic landmark.