Microsoft Mass Timber Data Centers
As part of a larger push to decarbonize, Microsoft is constructing two hyperscale datacenters in Virginia featuring hybrid structural systems of steel and mass timber.
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Project Details
Overview
As part of a larger push to decarbonize, Microsoft is constructing two hyperscale datacenters in Virginia featuring hybrid structural systems of steel and mass timber. The company is also using its influence to drive change in the marketplace through its Climate Innovation Fund by investing in the development of low carbon solutions with a commitment to decarbonizing the global supply chain– from steel and concrete production to energy and fuel generation to carbon capture.
We are providing structural design and construction engineering services to Syska Hennessey for the project, which achieves a significant reduction in embodied carbon. Microsoft seeks to be carbon negative by 2030 and is taking many steps internally to achieve it. Our Applied Science team is helping Microsoft explore pre-commercial materials that have ultra-low carbon content and supporting new material due diligence evaluations.
Highlights
- The datacenters consist of a conventional concrete foundation and steel frame but replace a traditional slab on metal deck floor plate with CLT (cross laminated timber) panels to achieve significant reductions in overall embodied carbon for the superstructure. Further reductions are achieved with an innovative low-carbon cement that is being used in small amounts as a pilot test.
- In general, hybrid mass timber construction offers 35% embodied carbon reductions compared to conventional steel construction, and 65% embodied carbon reductions compared to typical precast concrete construction.
- Our construction engineering team completed a fully connected Tekla model of the building, including all connection designs. This helped reduce the overall steel delivery timeline since the steel detailer was brought on board with the bulk of the detailing work already coordinated and completed.
- We are supporting review of the material supply chain and the integration of low-carbon requirements into standard specifications for procurement on Microsoft’s future projects.
