BKF Engineers provided comprehensive civil engineering and land surveying services for the retrofit of Microsoft’s BY1-2 Data Center, located at 2045 and 2055 Lafayette Street in Santa Clara, California. The project involved the transformation of a decommissioned facility into a modern, high-capacity data center designed to support advanced network infrastructure and ensure operational continuity.
The BY1-2 retrofit consisted of a 35.2MW two-story building, comprising two 17.6MW sections (BY1 and BY2) connected by a central electrical room. The retrofit included a Tier II IDF network upgrade, reuse of existing generators, MV transformers, and select feeders. During demolition and reconstruction, certain IT racks and supporting equipment remained live, requiring a carefully coordinated plan to ensure safety, security, and uninterrupted service.
BKF conducted a full site survey and updated the site master plan to reflect new infrastructure requirements and layout modifications. Civil engineering services included BIM modeling, layout improvements, and the design of new recycled water lines and stormwater treatment systems. BKF also engineered new cooling towers and utility connections to meet the facility’s expanded capacity.
Site access and security enhancements were a key focus. BKF developed improvements to optimize truck turning movements, ingress/egress routes, and circulation patterns, enhancing both operational efficiency and safety.
BKF managed permitting efforts and coordinated directly with the City of Santa Clara to ensure compliance with local regulations and streamline approvals. Construction administration services included signing and striping plans, utility coordination, and field support during implementation.
This project reflects BKF’s expertise in delivering technically complex, utility-intensive infrastructure for mission-critical data center environments, with a focus on precision, safety, and seamless integration with live operations.
