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. 

Digital Realty is developing Digital Park Fechenheim on the former Neckermann headquarters site in east Frankfurt. The wider campus will include 11 new data centres, with approximately 100,000m² of IT space. FRA19 forms part of the existing Eiermann building, which is being adapted to accommodate five data centres within the wider development. 

The challenge was to introduce critical data centre infrastructure into a building with an established structure, existing site services and significant architectural heritage. Designed by Egon Eiermann, the former Neckermann building is a listed monument protected by the State Office of Hesse for the Preservation of Monuments. Its conversion therefore needed to balance new technical requirements with the conservation of important existing features. 

Ethos provided full ICT, mechanical and electrical design services as the project progressed from RIBA Stage 1 feasibility through to Stage 2. We also acted as Design Manager, coordinating the design with existing building services, heritage requirements and lessons learned from completed areas of the wider campus. 

For FRA19, the design provides 9.87MW of IT power across two ground-floor data halls, supported by technical spaces on Levels 0 and 1. Approximately 9,300m² of commercial office accommodation, together with canteen space, occupies the floors above. The Ethos scope also covered the internal fit-out design for FRA19 and FRA57. 

Sustainability was considered from the outset. During Stage 1, Ethos developed the LEED scorecard to target a Silver rating, embedding the environmental requirements into the early design process. 

The result at RIBA Stage 2 is a coordinated design that brings new critical infrastructure into an important existing building while respecting its heritage context — supporting Digital Realty’s continued development of the wider Frankfurt campus.