Client Segment:
Vertical:
Services:
The Challenge
An aging industrial facility on the eastern edge of a major business park was selected for a complete internal overhaul. Originally constructed over 40 years ago, the structure needed to be reimagined to meet the technical, spatial, and energy demands of a next-generation data infrastructure hub.
Most of the work had to take place within the original building envelope. The goal: upgrade the space for high-performance computing, introduce smart and sustainable MEP systems, and repurpose the site with minimal environmental disruption all while coordinating structural and service changes across new and existing plant zones.
Client’s Initial Hurdles
Inherited building with outdated spatial layout and obsolete services
Redundant internal partitions, ramps, and raised flooring interfering with technical layouts
Limited plant space and height constraints for new backup generators and chillers
Incomplete legacy documentation requiring as-built verification Ambitious energy performance targets, including lower PUE and reduced operational power usage
Why This Was Critical
Why couldn’t the original facility support future requirements?
The existing layout, once suitable for light industrial use, lacked the service capacity, spatial efficiency, and technical infrastructure required for a high-density, mission-critical operation.
Why was internal demolition necessary?
To support centralized technical environments like data halls and electrical support rooms, internal elements such as raised access floors, partition walls, and redundant ceiling systems had to be removed. This allowed a clean foundation for modular layouts and service accessibility.
Why did the external plant zone need to be reconfigured?
The new infrastructure required the removal of legacy generators and chillers to make room for higher-capacity replacements. Coordinating this transition, while respecting space limits and visual guidelines, added complexity to planning.
What were the risks without a digitally guided retrofit strategy?
Without precise planning, the project risked plant clashes, delayed fit-out, power distribution inefficiencies, and operational downtime. Each of these could compromise go-live timelines and energy performance.
Why was energy efficiency central to this project?
Retrofitting the building instead of rebuilding preserved embodied carbon, but this needed to be matched by long-term operational efficiency making mechanical and electrical system optimization a cornerstone of the design approach.
Gaps in Existing Information
The building’s age and repurposed use meant that reliable drawings were limited or outdated. As a result, digital surveys were critical in verifying structural conditions, identifying routing paths for new services, and staging the demolition of non-essential architectural elements. The project demanded early data integration to coordinate everything from containment runs to rooftop plant layout.
Why Specific Requirements Mattered
The facility was being adapted for continuous, high-reliability operations. That meant every layout had to be serviceable, every containment accessible, and every generator and chiller precisely placed for optimal airflow and energy use.
With limited height available above the palisade fence and visibility constraints at street level, rooftop equipment had to be positioned behind screens without disrupting heat rejection or maintenance access. The retrofit strategy had to integrate performance, compliance, and aesthetics without compromise.
The Desapex Solution
Interior Reorganization & Strip-Out Planning Outdated elements such as raised floors, access ramps, and partitions were digitally mapped for phased removal. The cleared space allowed for a clean, flexible technical environment suitable for mission-critical operations.
External Generator & Chiller Zone Redesign Legacy generators and chillers were decommissioned and replaced with new high-capacity units. Generator heights, palisade fencing, and plant screening were coordinated to ensure visual compliance and thermal performance.
Energy-Efficient MEP Integration The new systems provided improved Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE), reduced power consumption, and supported modular future growth. Layouts were optimized to reduce cable runs and airflow resistance
Project Timeline & Milestones
Weeks 1–3: Digital survey and structural verification
Weeks 4–6: Interior demolition sequencing and MEP layout coordination
Weeks 7–10: External plant redesign and rooftop equipment screening
Final Phase: System commissioning, operational readiness handoff
Software & Technology Used
3D Laser Scanning for as-built accuracy
BIM (Autodesk Revit) for retrofit design and coordination
Smart demolition planning tools for internal reorganization
MEP optimization models for energy and airflow simulations
The Real Business Value Delivered
Enabled the adaptive reuse of a legacy structure, reducing construction waste and embodied carbon
Supported faster plant installation with clash-free layouts across confined zones
Improved PUE through efficient mechanical and electrical systems
Maintained compliance with planning visibility requirements and height restrictions
Delivered a future-ready data infrastructure hub within a repurposed shell
What This Means for Future Projects
There’s a growing understanding in the built environment that not every structure needs to be replaced to become high-performance. Sometimes, the most forward-thinking thing we can do is to work with what we already have and do it smarter.
This project proved that with precision planning and digital integration, a 44-year-old industrial shell could be transformed into a state-of-the-art technical facility. The building’s original structure provided the canvas, but every system from the placement of new generators to the invisible efficiency of power usage was shaped by data, foresight, and coordination.
As demands on infrastructure continue to rise, the future won’t always be built from scratch. It will be redefined layer by layer by those who can see potential in what's already standing, and have the tools to turn that vision into high-performance reality.