Overview

Longhorn Data Center, a 135,000-square-foot confidential data center in Temple, Texas, was completed in October 2023.

Consisting of data server halls and critical operational spaces, this facility was designed to ensure cost efficiency and optimized performance for the owner. Burns & McDonnell contracted Brandt, a Southland Industries company, to handle the electrical installations, which required careful scheduling, coordination, and precision to meet the high demands of a mission-critical facility.

Our Approach

Throughout construction, the project team overcame numerous challenges, including delays in the delivery of owner-furnished switchgear and transformers, incomplete switchgear shipments, and a difficult supply chain for six-inch fiberglass conduit. By fostering strong communication with trade partners and manufacturers, our project team successfully navigated these issues.

Our scope of work included furnishing and installing the following:

Concrete-encased conduit duct banks (approximately 50,000 feet of 6-inch fiberglass conduit)
Conduit and circuit labels
Light fixtures, including LED strip lighting
Conduit stub-ups for security systems, 24 card readers, and fire alarms
120V-480V house panelboards, transformers, and wiring for exhaust fans
Charging stations

To meet the project's complex electrical requirements, our in-house construction technology team designed intricate conduit racks and duct banks. Our BIM team facilitated production in our North Texas electrical fabrication shop, enabling timely deliveries of 20-foot rack sections to the jobsite. This prefabrication streamlined installation, reduced field labor, and enhanced safety by allowing our specialized teams to assemble and install large conduit racks onsite with ease.

In addition, we installed owner-furnished equipment, which included 88 transformers, 88 switchgear lineups, and over 100 cable tray routes connecting switchgear to interior spaces. As portions of the facility were completed, we energized them, allowing operations to begin progressively while construction continued.

Result

Our precision and expertise enabled the successful, on-time, and within-budget completion of this project, with our team achieving over 53,000 hours worked without a recordable incident. Designed with a secure, low-profile exterior, this data center discreetly houses critical systems that are meticulously structured to ensure long-term reliability and optimal performance.

This project was completed by Brandt, a Southland Industries company.