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July 28 2021
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Vol. XXIII • No. 15
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Facebook’s Expansion Tops $1B at Huntsville Data Center Campus Facebook’s ongoing expansion in Huntsville, Ala., will top $1 billion in capital investment, the social media giant announced June 8, confirming earlier AL.com reports in February of the growth of the sprawling facility. More than 200 people will be employed once the expansion is finished and operational, according to Facebook. That number is twice as many as first announced when the tech company said in 2018 that it was building a data center in the Rocket City. The site of the data center will be in the North Huntsville Industrial Park, near the Toyota Motor Manufacturing campus. It will feature four distinct buildings that will house servers to support Facebook
and Instagram. In total, the entire facility will encompass nearly 2.5 million sq. ft. campus and represent an investment north of $1 billion, Facebook said in a news release. “Construction of the third building is well under way, and construction is already starting for the rest of the campus,” Facebook noted in the announcement and reported on the AL.com news site. “As of today, this campus has contributed over 5 million work hours to the Huntsville economy. Nearly 24,000 tons of steel have been erected and 500,000 cubic yards of concrete poured.” The announcement from Facebook, based in see FACEBOOK page 6
Facebook rendering
A rendering of the expansion of Facebook’s data center campus in Huntsville, announced June 8, 2021.
Page 2 • July 28, 2021 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Alabama State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide
Grandview Project to Boost Local Economy, Bring Jobs A multi-million-dollar medical office building known as Grandview Physicians Plaza II will transform Birmingham, Ala.’s skyline when it opens in the second quarter of 2022. The seven-story, 200,000 sq.-ft. structure will provide a wide variety of services to the community and also have a significant economic impact on the city through the creation of new jobs. “Our culture of patient experience and clinical excellence has helped Grandview Medical Center become a tertiary medical destination for Birmingham and the region, and this significant investment will support further growth,” said Drew Mason, regional president at Grandview parent Community Health Systems. “Grandview is a trusted source for quality care, and we’re committed to providing our patients with an outstanding experience and access to comprehensive services.” Benefits to the local economy include capital spending, increased construction and clinical jobs and expansion of clinical services. A continued investment and recruitment of almost 500 new doctors has reportedly helped Grandview grow into a higher-level medical resource for the region. The hospital has experienced significant growth in admissions, surgeries and ER visits, while sustaining safety, quality, clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction. Community access to care has steadily expanded as the employed physician network has grown to 130-plus providers in more than 20 locations. Daniel Corporation, in partnership with Seavest Healthcare Properties, is the owner and developer of the $50 million professional office building. Grandview has signed a master/long-term lease to be the anchor tenant, leasing a significant portion of the building for physician offices and hospital services. “Daniel Corporation is delighted to further its investment in the Grandview campus through development of this facility,” Daniel Corporation President Pat Henry remarked in a news release. “We expect Grandview Physicians Plaza II to provide doctors with the finest medical office space available in the city.” The building is designed to support ease of access and a positive patient experience, with covered deck parking and a connector to the other buildings on campus so patients, physicians and employees can easily move between facili-
By Cindy Riley
CEG CORRESPONDENT
Brasfield & Gorrie photo
A total of 16,000 cu. yds. of dirt has been excavated, with an additional 4,500 cu. yds. of mass rock blasted and removed.
Brasfield & Gorrie photo
The most time-consuming part of the project has involved the initial sitework, deep foundations and the concrete structure.
ties. Additional surface parking will be adjacent to the structure. Birmingham-headquartered Brasfield & Gorrie is the general contractor of the project, which was designed and engineered by ESa Architecture and Schoel Engineering. According to Brasfield & Gorrie Project Manager Mitch Jones, the ongoing construction is not without its share of challenges. “Weather has been a factor, along with material procurement with long lead time items due to the shutdowns from 2020, and adequate available skilled labor.” Initial sitework began in the fourth quarter 2020, with project completion targeted for the first quarter of 2022. “Brasfield & Gorrie is currently self-performing the concrete structure,” said Jones. “Other work includes MEP overhead rough-in, as well as masonry work in the parking levels.” The property consisted of a four-acre landscaped site with a tree line on one side. Minimal clearing was required to remove trees and other landscaping features located along Grandview Parkway. Minimal grading was required for preparation of the surface parking lots for the project. “The bulk of excavation occurred during the process of excavating down to the building pad for the partially belowgrade parking levels,” said Jones. “Through previous geotechnical reports, we knew we would encounter rock during excavation of the building pad, and this influenced the design of the parking deck levels. However, the extent of the rock we encountered far surpassed what was expected, resulting in the need to blast.” A total of 16,000 cu. yds. of dirt has been excavated, with an additional 4,500 cu. yds. of mass rock blasted and removed. The majority of the site grading and storm drainage is complete, as well as a large portion of the upper surface parking lot. Crews also have completed all deep foundations, which consist of 90 drilled caissons approximately 45 ft. deep each. Construction milestones related to the project include the topping out of the concrete structure in the third quarter of 2021, the complete building envelope and dry-in later this year and the interior finishes/project completion early next year. see GRANDVIEW page 6
Brasfield & Gorrie photo Brasfield & Gorrie photo
Birmingham-headquartered Brasfield & Gorrie is the general contractor of the project, which was designed and engineered by ESa Architecture and Schoel Engineering.
The building is designed to support ease of access and a positive patient experience, with covered deck parking and a connector to the other buildings on campus so patients, physicians and employees can easily move between facilities. Additional surface parking will be adjacent to the structure.
Construction Equipment Guide • Alabama State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • July 28, 2021 • Page 3
Atlanta, GA 404.696.7210 Birmingham, AL 205.841.6666 Madison, AL 256.350.0006 Mobile, AL 251.633.4020 Montgomery, AL 334.262.6642 Oxford, AL 256.832.5053 Tuscaloosa, AL 205.848.4147 Pensacola, FL 850.479.3004
Page 4 • July 28, 2021 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Alabama State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide
Construction Equipment Guide • Alabama State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • July 28, 2021 • Page 5
Page 6 • July 28, 2021 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Alabama State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide
Crews Stay Mindful of Adjacent Hospital During Project Brasfield & Gorrie photo
“The bulk of excavation occurred during the process of excavating down to the building pad for the partially below-grade parking levels,” said Brasfield & Gorrie Project Manager Mitch Jones.
Brasfield & Gorrie photo
The seven-story, 200,000-sq.-ft. structure will provide a wide variety of services to the community and also have a significant economic impact on the city through the creation of new jobs. GRANDVIEW from page 2
A variety of equipment is being used on the job, including a Terex Peiner SK405 tower crane, a Komatsu extendable reach forklift, Mitsubishi warehouse forklifts, a Cat skid steer, Skyjack scissor lifts, a boom lift and backhoe. Main materials include concrete, rebar, post-tensioned Brasfield & Gorrie photo
Main materials include concrete, rebar, post-tensioned cables, formwork materials, lumber and structural steel for the rooftop screen and pedestrian connector bridge to existing buildings.
cables, formwork materials, lumber and structural steel for the rooftop screen and pedestrian connector bridge to existing buildings. Jones noted that building a medical facility differs from more traditional projects. “Special attention has to be paid to means of egress and access, typically above and beyond normal ADA requirements. Ceiling heights are challenging because of the amount of mechanical, electrical and plumbing infrastructure and other equipment that must fit in the space between the ceiling and the structure. “A lot of coordination goes into the front end of the project, to make sure all provisions are put in place for future equipment, and that equipment may not be available for installation until much later. You also have to be very mindful if you are working in or next to an adjacent hospital in terms of work hours, access through patient areas and noiseintrusive tasks.” The most time-consuming part of the project has involved the initial sitework, deep foundations and the concrete structure. “This is a critical path activity spanning approximately nine months of the 16-month total project duration,” said Jones. “The growth happening at Grandview Medical Center helps further solidify our position as a national leader in topnotch medical care,” said Gov. Kay Ivey at the official groundbreaking ceremony in November 2020. “I’m always proud to celebrate the health care contributions that Birmingham makes, not only to Alabama, but to the southeast region and the entire country. Today, I was proud to join
Brasfield & Gorrie photo
A variety of equipment is being used on the job, including a Terex Peiner SK405 tower crane; a Komatsu extendable reach forklift; Mitsubishi warehouse forklifts; a Cat skid steer; Skyjack scissor lifts; a boom lift and backhoe.
Grandview in breaking ground on this new facility.” “Birmingham is recognized as a national leader in healthcare because of the world-class research, patient care and delivery that happens in our city,” Mayor Randall Woodfin commented. “This development will expand Birmingham’s competitive advantage by providing a state-of-the-art facility adjacent to an excellent healthcare provider.” CEG
Facebook Data Center Campus Takes Shape in Huntsville FACEBOOK from page 1
Menlo Park, Calif., touted its data centers as “among the most energy and water efficient data center facilities in the world.” For example, the news release said that Facebook’s Huntsville Data Center will be supported by 100 percent renewable energy, which will include a solar project in nearby Muscle Shoals.
The two original buildings of Facebook’s operation are nearing completion, the company said, and will be online by the end of the year. Last November, Huntsville’s city council gave its approval to the Facebook campus expansion in the North Huntsville Industrial Park. According to the amended project development agreement, the global tech giant purchased 197 acres from private owners adjacent
to the original campus, which was made up of about 250 acres purchased from the city, AL.com reported. Facebook first announced its plans to come to the dynamic Huntsville area of north Alabama in 2018, followed by making a $750 million investment. The company also has won local hearts and minds by becoming an active corporate partner
in Huntsville, sponsoring Huntsville-Madison County Chamber of Commerce events and donating almost $1 million to the county’s schools in 2020 to make digital technology more accessible to students. Facebook also gifted $100,000 to Alabama’s under-construction School of Cyber Technology and Engineering in Huntsville, among other community efforts.
Construction Equipment Guide • Alabama State Supplement • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • July 28, 2021 • Page 7
210 West Blvd Montgomery AL 36108
1797 Fulton Springs Rd Alabaster AL 35007
1-844-786-6373 www.stoneequipmentco.com
Page 8 • July 28, 2021 • www.constructionequipmentguide.com • Alabama State Supplement • Construction Equipment Guide
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