NextFort Ventures, a provider of energy-efficient modular data centers, broke ground on a new data center in Chandler. General contractor is Sunstate Builders and architect is Butler Design Group.
The 130,000SF NextFort Venture Data Center, designed with the environment in mind, will be a mix of office space and computing suites in a unique modular architecture. NextFort employs numerous innovations in power distribution, cooling and facilities architecture to achieve up to 40% better energy efficiency compared to other data centers. Additionally, NextFort has a goal of receiving up to 20% of its total energy usage from renewable sources in 2013.
The NextFort Chandler Data Center is the first facility of its kind designed exclusively for high-density applications, offering customers its NextFort High-Density Computing Suites (NextFort HCS). The NextFort HCS is a highly modular design that provides greater efficiency, rapid deployment, unrivaled security, total customer control, and lower operating costs.
“We couldn’t be more excited to be breaking ground on the NextFort Chandler Data Center after many months of planning and exceptional cooperation with the City of Chandler,” said Mark Towfiq, President and CEO of NextFort Ventures. “We believe our product is unique in the industry and we are confident that it will provide a powerful and highly cost effective solution for all types of customers, ranging from start-up ventures to Fortune 500 companies.”
Enormous increases in demand for data storage and computing created in part by the increased use of mobile apps, social networking sites, and the growth of the internet in emerging markets is creating an optimal environment for NextFort as it embarks on this project. The business-friendly environment in Chandler, the low cost of power, and the presence of robust fiber optic networks, makes Chandler an ideal location for NextFort. The company will employ approximately 25 people in Chandler, and will attract businesses of all types to the area.
This project on Germann Road will be Chandler’s second commercial development this year.
“The fact that companies are making this sort of capital investment in our community is a positive sign for the City of Chandler,” said Mayor Jay Tibshraeny. “I think it speaks volumes about the quality of Chandler’s business environment in the Price Corridor and throughout the city as well as the continued economic recovery.”
Both new construction projects are taking place in the Price Corridor, which has long been envisioned as Chandler’s technology hub.
“Price Corridor is a key economic play for Chandler, and our community’s commitment to the vision for that area is now paying dividends,” said Pete Wentis, a broker for CBRE and former member of the City’s Economic Development Advisory Board.
In cooperation with the University of Arizona, NextFort will continue to strive for improvements to the energy efficiency of its data center, making the company a leader in the industry.
“The East Valley, and Chandler in particular, have proven to be very attractive to data center operations,” said Barry Broome, president and CEO of the Greater Phoenix Economic Council. “NextFort is a world-class company and we couldn’t be more pleased to welcome them – and their passion for innovation – to the region.”
