Construction Begins On Sandia Labs New Data Center In Livermore

LIVERMORE, CA — National Nuclear Security Administration officials recently joined Sandia National Laboratories in Livermore to break ground on a new 8,900-square-foot data center. Once built, the new facility at Sandia's existing Livermore campus is poised to house information-processing equipment for the company. Sandia has worked with NNSA on plans to replace the aging facility, which was originally constructed in the late 1960s and poses a number of operational risks, according to Sandia officials.

“Given the critical services the California data center provides, the existing 50-year-old facility was inadequate for meeting our growing needs,” said Sandia Associate Labs director Dori Ellis. “Keeping the status quo, particularly right now in our history, is just not tenable. We are going through a growth process, and having the capability and the reliability to be able to support our mission is critical.”

Sandia focuses on national security issues and is a federally funded research and development center. Funding for the new $14.7 million data center is being provided by the National Nuclear Security Administration, according to a Sandia spokesperson.

“I see this groundbreaking as the first step in revitalizing the whole Sandia/California campus. We’re working together to finalize plans to improve office space, modernize laboratories, and acquire new equipment,” said Ken Sheely, deputy associate administrator for infrastructure at NNSA. “I know this infrastructure investment is long overdue, but we are on the verge of really making it happen. This data center is our first commitment—our down payment—to modernizing the Sandia/California campus.”

PTS Data Center Solutions is the general contractor that was awarded the construction contract. The project is slated to be completed by July 2020.