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What is the Data Center Compass?
When it comes to Data Centers everyone is looking for ways to improve processes, performance, and efficiency. The Data Center Compass was developed by Acuity, an independent technology design and consulting firm with expertise in conceptual design, project feasibility, and budget estimations for Data Centers. The Data Center Compass is an online web application that was developed to provide significant time and cost savings in the planning phase for a Data Center upgrade or New Build.

Who is Acuity?
Since 2001, Acuity has been assisting Fortune 500 Companies, Leading Technology Firms, World-Class Universities and Medical Centers navigate the paths and blind alleys in the Data Center design and construction processes. We are an independent technology consulting firm with locations in Texas and North Carolina. We do not sell any products and are known in the industry as an unbiased resource for companies that need technology solutions that fit their business needs.

Acuity's decades of expertise has been brought to thousands of Data Center projects over the years. We also have expertise in all areas and communication systems. This provides us with the holistic technology perspective that was used to create a proprietary manual process to assist companies with conceptual design, project feasibility, and budget estimation for data centers. Acuity automated that process in the Data Center Compass because we believed companies were in need of a fast, efficient, and affordable alternative to get from the conceptual design of a Data Center to an operational facility. Click here to learn more.

What phase of Data Center planning does the Data Center Compass help me with?
Data Centers are one of the biggest investments for organizations and can easily cost 10 to 20 times the amount of a typical commercial real estate investment. There are substantial risks, both financially and from an operational standpoint, when every detail is not planned thoroughly. Organizations must feel confident they have adhered to industry standard guidelines while having sufficiently accounted construction cost estimations prior to undertaking any schedule or financial risk for a new Data Center.

IT architecture and planning follows the same major phases as the traditional process of Architecture as defined by the American Institute of Architects: Schematic Design (SD), Design Development (DD), Construction Documents (CD), Bidding and Contract Negotiation (BID), and Construction Administration (CA). The first half of planning for a Data Center consists of Schematic Design and Design Development. It is in these planning phases where you have the greatest opportunity for errors and oversights.

In Schematic Design (also known as conceptual or high level design), the primary objective is to gain a basic understanding of project constraints, establish goals, and explore solutions that support the desired outcomes and business needs. Constraints and preferences help define and redefine complete system concepts until you arrive at a clearly defined feasible project. All while trying to find the balance of TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) and the concept design.

Why should I use the Data Center Compass for the first phase of Data Center planning?

  • Automate the First Phase in any Data Center Project: Conceptual/Schematic (High Level) Design.
  • Input a few pieces of information based on your facility and level of IT expertise. Then, run through different design and budget scenarios with less internal resources and time to assist with creating Data Center Goals & Strategies.
  • Compare the cost to build in different locations in the U.S in minutes.
  • Provides a blueprint and a holistic perspective for the technical specs for the Data Center’s critical areas. Gives you the power to explore alternative designs, concepts, and costs. Now can be done internally in days.
  • Establish budget early in the process to ensure realistic relationship with conceptual design to the newly retrofitted or constructed facility.
  • Typically an assessment and a series of “what if scenarios” are conducted by 3rd party consultants. Now you have the ability to quickly run through all the assessments and “what-if” scenarios internally before hiring the 3rd party consultants to assist with the next phase of the project, reducing scope and fees.
  • Intuitive 5 Step Process that can be utilized by internal resources to determine project feasibility and cost in a fraction of the time.
  • Shell/Interior Construction Estimates & Context in a consolidated detailed report. Once you have a concept, design, and budget in the automated system you just hit print and share the reports in minutes. Get project capital budget dollars for your Data Center approved faster.

How does the Data Center Compass help Executives, IT and Facilities specialists build new or upgrade Data Center facilities?

A company can focus on their core business as long as the facility is running as expected. However, a large majority of companies right now have a need to update, expand, or build new facilities. Data Centers are aging and are at a critical juncture. They are deficient in power, cooling, and capacity. Companies are now devoting vast amounts of time and resources toward upgrading and building new facilities to keep up with their communication demands.

When it comes to a Data Center upgrade or new build you can’t afford not to utilize design expertise that provides real hands-on Data Center experience. Would you build a skyscraper without having sound architectural and engineering plans? The Data Center can cost 10 to 20 times the typical real estate investment. A few extra checks and balances from an automated, unbiased Data Center resource is exactly what IT & Facilities specialists need to help collaborate with Executives to make sound decisions faster.

What solutions does the Data Center Compass provide our organization?

  • Diagnostics for current facilities
  • Sound Practices & Strategies for building a New Facility or Retrofitting current facility
  • Facilitates collaboration among stakeholders across the organization
  • Contextualizing data to support project needs and educate to stakeholders
  • More agile budgeting process
  • Reporting for in-depth analysis and drilldown into IT parameters, specs, and costs
  • Accelerates decision making

What value does the Data Center Compass provide?

Context! When you are looking to buy a house you tell your realtor I want 3 bedrooms, 2 car garage, 2.5 baths and my budget is $150,000-200,000. The realtor needs context to help you find the house that fits your needs within your budget. It’s the same thing with an office space or Data Center. With a Data Center it is a little more difficult to come up with the context to justify the budget needed. You can’t just go to an architect, engineer, MEP, or technology consultant and say I have a $10 million dollar budget. What does that get me? The Data Center Compass provides you with the system specs needed to move forward with budget approval and Detailed Design (DD).

Is the online web application time intensive to learn?

The Data Center Compass database is crunching complex Data Center engineering principles and math in the background. However, the front end of the Data Center tool was designed to be intuitive with an easy to use interface. Anyone who knows or has access to a few key variables for their facility as it relates to one of the following: Max kW per cabinet, Max Watts per Square Foot, Cooling Required, Dimensions of White Space, or Number of Total Servers; can intuitively navigate through the 5 simple steps. This will generate detailed conceptual designs with cost estimations for the shell and interior of the new Data Center or just the cost estimations for the interior if it is a retrofit or upgrade.

Will the Data Center Compass provide final detailed budgets and designs?

No. The Data Center Compass is intended to assist with the Schematic or Conceptual Design phase only. This is the phase that IT parameters, business needs, and project constraints are identified. Design system concepts are generated that allow you to analyze solutions, compare alternatives, and come away with clearly defined feasible Data Center Projects. Then you can move on to the Detailed Design (DD) Phase to finalize budgets and designs.