BKF Engineers provided comprehensive civil engineering and land surveying services for PG&E’s Data Center Efficiency Project at 425 Beck Avenue, focused on expanding and modernizing critical infrastructure at an existing facility. The project aimed to improve operational resilience and energy efficiency through strategic upgrades to cooling systems, utility infrastructure, and site layout.
BKF supported the design and construction of a new cooling tower to enhance the facility’s thermal management capabilities. This expansion was aligned with PG&E’s broader energy efficiency goals, incorporating best practices such as centralized air handling and water-side economization. To accommodate the new cooling infrastructure, BKF reconfigured the emergency generator area, optimizing the site layout for both performance and accessibility.
A key component of the project was the re-routing of existing utility services, including fire protection, domestic water, and sanitary sewer, that previously ran beneath the proposed expansion area. BKF engineered new alignments to maintain uninterrupted service and ensure compliance with PG&E’s operational standards. Additionally, the site was enhanced with minor parking modifications and the installation of a natural gas vehicle fueling station, supporting PG&E’s sustainability initiatives.
The project involved the added complexity of maintaining uninterrupted operations at an existing data center throughout the entire construction process. This challenge was heightened by the fact that the facility served as PG&E’s primary backup to its main data center in San Francisco, making operational continuity absolutely critical. Every phase of construction had to be meticulously planned and executed to avoid any disruption to the center’s infrastructure, systems, and services. Coordination with PG&E’s IT and facilities teams was essential to ensure that all redundancies remained intact and that the backup systems were fully functional at all times.
BKF conducted a detailed topographic field survey to document existing conditions and inform design decisions. Our team developed civil improvement plans for new sidewalk installation adjacent to the cooling tower, relocated a fire hydrant, and coordinated closely with the structural engineer to detail interactions between site elements and cooling tower walls. BKF also collaborated with the design team to align electrical and gas conduit placements for the fueling station, ensuring seamless integration across disciplines.
