Helping Digital Realty transform part of Frankfurt’s historic Neckermann site into a high-performance data centre. Coordinating resilient M&E infrastructure, heritage constraints and sustainability requirements through to Stage 4.
FRA20 forms part of Digital Realty’s Digital Park Fechenheim campus in East Frankfurt. The wider development will include 11 data centres and approximately 100,000m² of IT space once complete. FRA20 itself provides around 8,140m² of whitespace across five levels, with two data hall suites on each floor.
The challenge was to introduce modern critical infrastructure into a protected existing building. Designed by Egon Eiermann, the former Neckermann building is a listed heritage monument, so the design had to balance new technical requirements with the conservation of important architectural features.
Ethos delivered the full mechanical and electrical design as the project progressed from RIBA Stage 3 to Stage 4. Our scope covered the FRA20 internal fit-out and associated generator tower, while coordinating design changes with the existing building permit and incorporating lessons learned through the optioneering process.
Resilience is built into the electrical design. The infrastructure includes redundant utility connections, two independent MV distribution systems, 11 transformers and 13 diesel generators, alongside UPS distribution, power monitoring, site switching and associated protection systems.
The mechanical strategy combines 18 Cooling Generation Modules with free-cooling chillers and CRAH systems serving the data halls. Chilled and heating water, ventilation, humidity control and BMS systems support the wider technical and office environments.
Sustainability requirements were also embedded into the design, with FRA20 developed to achieve a LEED Silver rating in coordination with the project’s LEED consultants.
With RIBA Stage 4 now complete, FRA20 establishes the detailed engineering framework for 16MW of IT capacity within a complex heritage setting — bringing resilience, performance and conservation requirements together in one coordinated design.
