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• Inherited building with outdated spatial layout and obsolete services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

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.