Frost Engineering designed the reinforced concrete caissons, cantilevered wide flange steel columns, and intermediate steel HSS and wide flange framing to support the structural FRP panels and steel louvers surrounding a data center site in Ashburn, Virginia. The screen wall stands approximately 22 feet tall and spans 854 feet in length.

The reduced weight of the FRP panels, compared to traditional concrete or steel materials, enabled more efficient spacing of the caissons, leading to substantial cost savings for the owner. Additional features of the screen wall included automated overhead coiling doors for vehicular access to the yard, multiple louver locations, and secured man-doors for personnel access. Every section of the screen wall was engineered to meet the stringent security requirements of a data center. Additionally, the customizable color of the panels provided flexibility to align with the site’s aesthetic.