2. Design

Teamwork and communication: without them, it is virtually impossible to design facilities that work the way they are meant to.

Nova’s long history in construction management provides management and input from the very beginning and throughout the design process to ensure that the project is designed in a manner that meets the client’s cost and schedule expectations. We maintain strong relationships with key MEP engineering, architectural, structural and civil firms in many regions but are capable of working with a client-preferred design firm as well.

While it is easy enough to make design documents “code compliant” in the absence of the client’s specific requirements, it is a much bigger challenge to make them “user compliant.” Typically, deficiencies are not discovered until the project is turned over to the operations group, creating unexpected delays. To avoid this, the Nova Corp Design Development team works directly with the end-users and developers to integrate specific requirements into the original design documents to reduce shortcomings. Our experienced, highly trained, multi-disciplinary, in-house design staff is able to identify errors and omissions quickly and effectively, ensuring that the bid and construction documents are truly what the client is expecting.

3. Permitting

Nova can greatly improve the timescale of the always necessary permit application and approval process. With plans in hand, Nova will personally attend review meetings to support the design objectives for facility planning and approval efforts. Nova’s track record in construction management allows us to communicate effectively with local building and planning authorities while quickly implementing any additional local coe requirements or revisions. Specializing in the rapid delivery of data centers, Nova maintains a focus on the overall objective and employs a continuous effort towards obtaining permits on or ahead of milestone dates.

Nova understands the criticality of reaching project milestones within the unique and often aggressive construction schedule of a data center; the Permit process requires a level of effort that stems from that understanding.

4. Equipment Procurement

Nova’s key relationships and vast history with its vendors, including Schneider, Liebert, Cummins, Caterpillar, Trane and Siemens, among others, are leveraged for rapid project development and critical equipment procurement planning. With response times being critical, Nova ensures critical and long lead items are confirmed, procured and delivered to the site by the vendor of choice on or ahead of project milestone dates.

Nova is proud to relay the beneficial terms and delivery dates gained by developing Millions of square feet with most major vendors and industry manufacturers. Nova also performs commissioning and certification of critical equipment, facility documentation and even staff training.

5. Demolition

One of the integral parts of project development is the selective demolition of an existing building’s conditions, ultimately supporting the completed data center. By utilizing the existing structural components, roofing systems and perimeter wall integrity, Nova can save the client additional cost by utilizing the benefit of the existing conditions to achieve the final design concept as well as the time savings yielded by that process.

In today’s “green world” Nova is conscience of the products generated in the demolition cycle including those that require sensitive removal and/or controlled abatement processes. Recycled materials are sensitively managed to meet all local codes and removal standards.

6. Construction

As construction commences the Design Development team interfaces with the Build team to provide engineering, zoning, site, environmental, civil, and structural design support. Understanding the unique program of a data center project and the essential concept of speed-to-market, Nova drives the construction schedule to achieve milestone dates and arrive on or ahead of schedule. In Nova’s lengthy history in the Mission Critical world, all data center projects were delivered on time or better.

If the client has design standards, the Nova team ensures compliance during various stages of construction. Nova meets with the client at key milestone dates to align with those standards and obtain sign-off on all aspects of the project, including:

Architectural

• Comprehensive space planning
• Overall site layout and civil requirements
• Egress / ADA considerations
• Visual impact
• Security planning

Structural

• Floor loading
• Roof loading and dunnage
• Vibration analysis

Mechanical and Electrical

• HVAC capacity, selection, limitations, redundancy
• Generator configuration (single, paralleled or distributed)
• UPS plant configuration (single, paralleled, isolated redundant)
• Incoming electrical service size and diversity
• Connectivity to fiber
• Secondary electrical distribution
• Grounding and lightning protection
• DC power plant sizing and design

Plumbing

• Waste water management
• Diesel fuel storage and delivery

Fire

• Detection Systems (detectors, VESDA)
• Suppression systems (FM-200, pre-action, Hi-Fog, wet)

7. Commissioning

Once construction is completed, Nova performs commissioning, integrated systems testing and site certification. This includes testing of all critical equipment, facility operations and management systems, close-out documentation handover and even staff training. In addition to visually inspecting the existing facility, Nova can provide complete commissioning services via a Third-Party relationship or a client-appointed commissioning firm.

Nova believes in the early involvement of the commissioning agent, to ensure familiarity with the design and installation, so that the testing process is carried out smoothly and in a familiar environment. The end objective is to confirm that all of the data center’s components are properly installed and work together as a unified, mission-critical system.

8. Integration with IT Provisioning

Nova understands the value of early customer deployment within the data center environment. To that end, Nova allows and plans for phased provisioning installments of customer racks and servers during commissioning. When areas of the data center are completed, they can be in turn provided to the client for phased provisioning to get ahead of customer set-up and staging times. This added value translates to an enhanced cash flow projections and improved payback timeframes.