PHOENIX, Ariz. (September 25, 2024) – Local construction management company, GCON Inc., has recently completed construction for an 18-megawatt data center in Santa Clara, Calif. The project achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification at the Platinum level. LEED Platinum buildings are in the top 1 percent of LEED-certified buildings in terms of scoring.
Using LEED as a construction tool in concert with other innovative delivery techniques, GCON was able to cost-effectively repurpose a 215,000-square-foot building into a high-density data center. Over 90% of the building and structure were reused, with only portions of roofing, fireproofing, and drywall being replaced. Throughout the project, GCON was able to divert over 700+ tons of construction waste from landfills. To further reduce construction waste and total embodied carbon for the data center, GCON used the in-house Building Information Modeling (BIM) process to better plan and manage the construction process.
“Everyone at GCON works tirelessly to ensure sustainability is a priority in every project we build,” said Gabe Gavriilidis, co-founder of GCON. “To complete this project following LEED Platinum requirements is a testament to our dedication to the top environmental health and safety standards in our industry.”
LEED projects earn points by adhering to prerequisites and credits across nine measurements for building excellence from integrative design to human health and material use. The LEED rating systems are meant to challenge construction teams and inspire outside-the-box solutions. In the case of this project, GCON worked closely with the design team to achieve more than 80 percent water savings and over 54 percent energy savings in comparison to LEED minimums. This translates to over $30 million in annual utility cost savings for the data center owner which will continue to grow as they expand the site.
Consistent project management and team integration helped GCON reach the target of LEED Platinum. Every subcontractor was trained on LEED objectives, and each chemical product was screened for hazards. GCON kept the jobsite clean throughout construction and scheduled time for a building flush-out to purge leftover contaminants. The building passed rigorous indoor air quality testing before being delivered to the owner.
The LEED process drove better resource efficiency on the job site during construction while enhancing data center operations in terms of improved indoor air quality, resiliency, and efficiency. GCON is betting that more of its clients will want these kinds of long-term amenities, especially when they can be delivered within a conventional budget.