Computer Room Air Handlers
16
Historic Building
Built in 1913
Three
36-Ton Rooftop Chillers
Project Description
In November 2023, MacDonald-Miller crews kicked off Phase 1 of the Pittock Block Project, a significant initiative set in the heart of downtown Portland, Oregon. This historic building, constructed in 1913, offers unique challenges and opportunities, perfect for our team of craftsmen.
The Pittock Block is notable not only for its age but also for its adaptive potential, with an entire floor being converted into a data center. Between our union team members’ detailed plans and installation, Pittock Block is advancing to the forefront of modern connectivity through the crews’ persistence and determination.
MacDonald-Miller has been selected to build and install a comprehensive chilled water system designed to feed 16 computer room air handlers and three 36-ton rooftop chillers. This upgrade will also include a custom-fabricated lightwell rack to support the building’s critical systems. In addition to these features, the upgraded infrastructure will host a generator and cooling system capable of providing up to 7 MW of power during an outage, ensuring reliability and safety for all occupants.
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Project Phases
This was the ultimate collaboration, from our subs to the project team, the fab shop, and the field team. This couldn’t have happened without everyone’s support, sacrifice, and dedication. It’s one of the things that makes MacDonald-Miller a special group. I am truly grateful for everyone’s help and support! We accomplished what most would have considered an impossible deadline.Gene Cannon, Piping General Foreman at MacDonald-Miller
Highlights
Going the Extra Mile
The team was tasked with a challenging shutdown on the entire buildings cooling system, on the hottest weekend of the year none the less. They had to re-route and re-pipe an area that has become known as the “spaghetti pile” of pipe. The team’s attention to detail and perfectionist attitude was instrumental in the accuracy of redesigning the system.
Challenges
Turning a 112-year-old historic building into a data center is no small task! A critical environment project, like Pittock Block, requires an immense amount of cooling to support the high demand for power.
Custom Fabrication
One of the advantages of offsite fabrication is the ability to prefab the steel to support the pipe and install that pipe onto the racks. With multiple trade racks made offsite in our Seattle and Portland fab shops, we are able to ensure efficacy, safety, and overall better quality control.