Federal partners break ground on $1.5 billion center

Posted February 10, 2011
By Katisha Draughn
Public Affairs Office

02/10/2011 - BALTIMORE, Md. — Baltimore and Sacramento Districts and the National Security Agency broke ground Jan. 6 on the $1.5 billion Utah Data Center at Camp Williams National Guard Training Site in Bluffdale, Utah.

The groundbreaking ceremony drew the attention of more than 200 Department of Defense dignitaries, elected officials, military personnel, state, local and political leaders, NSA, Baltimore, and Sacramento District team members and approximately 17 media outlets.

The one million square-foot data center is currently the largest DoD project in the nation. It will include 100,000 square feet of computer space, where the country’s intelligence agencies will process data to be used by the Department of Homeland Security and other agencies to protect national security networks and issue warnings about cyber-security threats. That core will be surrounded by more than 900,000 square feet of technical support and administrative space.

"In an era when our nation and its allies are increasingly dependent on the integrity of information and systems supported, transmitted, or stored in cyberspace, it is essential that that space is as resilient and secure as possible," said John C. Inglis, deputy director of the NSA.

NSA has been designated as the executive agent for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence on the project. Two U.S. Army Corps of Engineers districts — Baltimore and Sacramento — are the construction agents responsible for handling the acquisition and contracting process, design management and review, and project management.

On Sept. 24, 2010, a joint venture team consisting of DPR Construction of Redwood City, Calif.; Balfour Beatty US of Dallas, Texas; and Big D Construction of Salt Lake City, Utah; was selected to build the new data center.

The project was given the "green light" when President Barack Obama signed the 2009 Supplemental-War Funding Bill, approving an initial spending of $169.5 million in June 2009.

Brig. Gen. Peter A. DeLuca, commander of the USACE North Atlantic Division, attended the event and emphasized the teamwork necessary for a project of this magnitude, and its importance.

"It is important for the Corps of Engineers, our customer, and the nation," said DeLuca. "We are honored, proud and dedicated to be the best construction agent. That is our commitment."

Randy Winemiller, Real Property Services Field Office chief, Baltimore District, said the partnership between Baltimore and Sacramento districts is critical to project success.

"The customer is at Fort Meade, and the construction work is in Utah where the Sacramento District has a large, very qualified contingent of construction managers," he said. "Their expertise in managing construction contracts, in that part of the country, is something that would be difficult to duplicate with such a large project."

The facility will generate 5,000 to 10,000 new jobs during the construction phase and will support approximately 100 to 200 permanent employees once it is complete, which is scheduled for October 2013.

The data center will have support facilities that will include an electrical substation, a vehicle inspection building and visitor control center, fuel and water storage structures, and a chiller plant. The facility will also target a silver rating under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program, a voluntary rating system for energy efficient buildings overseen by the U.S. Green Building Council.

"This [facility] will be an important link to protecting American Soldiers and citizens," said Maj. Gen. Brian Tarbet, adjutant general, Utah National Guard. "To me, that’s a good day."