The Aligned Energy Data Center campus in Phoenix, Arizona consists of three interconnected multi-tenant buildings totaling approximately 550,000 square feet of mission critical and highly secured facility space. Frost Engineering was enlisted for structural design services at this location to design a wide range of infrastructure components.

The Frost team designed the interior framing to support mission critical utilities weighing over 100 psf in many locations, utilizing moment-resisting steel frames in bays sizes exceeding 20 feet x 40 feet in plan and 20 feet in height. Given the lack of a diaphragm system but the heavy spatial demands of critical utilities atop these frames, Frost designed efficient horizontal bracing mechanisms that could be installed in field.

Due to its light weight and rapid production, pultruded FRP framing can be manufactured, fabricated, delivered and installed on an accelerated timeline compared to heavier traditional infrastructure materials.

To ensure the rapid procurement and installation of infill framing, Frost Engineering designed a project-targeted 18 inch, 20+ feet spanning pultruded fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) beam, and designed and carried out an experimental testing program to validate its capacity and performance.

FRP is a composite material consisting of polymer resin matric reinforced by fibers. Due to its light weight and rapid production, pultruded FRP framing can be manufactured, fabricated, delivered and installed on an accelerated timeline compared to heavier traditional infrastructure materials. These advantages make FRP an ideal material for mission critical build projects like data centers.