The University of Virginia (UVA) is planning to build a new data center to support its growing research needs. The current center is almost at full capacity, which has created delays for researchers. Vice President and CIO Kelly Doney highlighted that these delays make it harder for the university to attract and keep top faculty.
The proposed data center will initially offer 4 megawatts (MW) of IT capacity, with plans for future expansion up to 16 MW. This project would involve an investment of $72 million and is set to be located at the Fontaine Research Park. A key feature of the new facility will be its use of geothermal energy from the nearby Fontaine Energy Plant, allowing for efficient heating and cooling. In fact, waste heat generated by the data center could be recycled for use elsewhere in the park.
Doney noted that the existing data center, which has only 1.5 MW of capacity, cannot be expanded due to space and power limitations. As a result, UVA explored alternatives like cloud computing and leasing space in commercial data centers. However, these methods were found to be significantly more expensive—up to five times more costly in some cases. Associate Vice President for Research Computing Josh Baller mentioned that the university’s current setup will remain operational for another two years before transitioning to the new facility.
The timeline for construction aims for a start in 2026, with hopes to open by 2029. Discussions about this project will take place at the Board of Visitors meeting in June.
Fontaine Research Park, where the new data center will be located, covers 54 acres and has been part of UVA since 1994. It houses research units and several buildings. Previous plans have included a state-of-the-art Institute of Biotechnology and the Fontaine Central Energy Plant, which will utilize advanced thermal energy technologies.
Interestingly, UVA’s current data center has faced challenges as well. It experienced an outage in May 2023 when fallen trees disrupted its grid connection. The existing data center was launched in 2011 and had a critical power capacity of around 1 MW.
As noted by experts in research computing, the development of this new data center not only meets immediate needs but also positions UVA competitively against peer institutions. Given that data centers play a crucial role in supporting university research, this project could enhance UVA’s standing in technology and innovation.
For more information about the University’s plans and its current capabilities, you can visit the Cavalier Daily.
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