A powerful crane is delivering aggregates for the roof of the STOS CC of Gdańsk University of Technology | Gdańsk University of Technology

STOS CC of Gdańsk University of Technology is being built on the university campus at Traugutta Street. It is here that the Gdańsk Tech headquarters of the Information Center of the Tri-City Academic Computer Network will be located. The investment is to act as a multidisciplinary data collection and processing center - in accordance with the latest global standards. The possibilities of STOS CC can also be used for scientific research in the field of physics, astronomy, but also biotechnology and medicine. It will also support implementation research for the commercialization of science. The most important space in the building will be the so-called "Bunker", where one of the fastest supercomputers in Poland will be located. And most importantly, all work is to be completed soon.

– The center will be a technological showcase of the city and the region, so we are impatiently waiting for the completion of construction works and its commissioning - says prof. Krzysztof Wilde, rector of Gdańsk University of Technology. - Not only our academic community, but also other Pomeranian universities and, above all, local industry and business fait for it impatiently - adds the Gdańsk Tech rector.

– Virtually all major installations are already done. We are starting to launch every system one by one - says Michał Sadowski, project director from the NDI company in Sopot, which is the general contractor of the investment. - The building's body, roof and elevations have been finished. Most of the technical rooms, such as switching rooms, server rooms and fan rooms, have already been equipped. All cable routes, pipelines and installations have been laid.

Communicating vessels

The contractors of the investment do not hide the fact that this implementation is not an easy one, because the facility is characterized by a significant degree of complexity - some rooms are like communicating vessels, yet they are scattered in various areas of the building.

– In terms of installation, the main challenge is the multi-stage testing. The control and start-up of all devices practically begins in the factory and ends with checking the entire connected system and its operation already in the finished facility - says Dominik Kardynał, construction manager at NDI.

The server room requires special care, as it is to meet the highest data security standards, including protection of the data from fire, water and electromagnetic fields. In turn, the supercomputer requires constant cooling and maintaining constant temperature and humidity. The source of technological cooling for the entire building will be five external chilled water containers, which are just being connected. To deliver two 40-ton power generators to the roof of STOS CC, a huge crane with a load capacity of 500 tons was used.

The first one in Europe

The junctions have been completed and the phased tightness tests and insulation of the installations have started. The next step will be rinsing and filling the installation. Precision air-conditioning cabinets are still to be delivered and connected.

– It will be the first such large DC server room in Europe with great development potential - emphasizes director Michał Sadowski from NDI. - The building will be prepared for certification at the level of at least TIER III. It will also be equipped with an intelligent control system.

The center is built on the basis of Green Computing assumptions - so as to minimize the impact of activities on the environment, and at the same time to increase the energy efficiency of the equipment and laboratories.

The facility has a fully integrated security system based on access control systems, video monitoring, as well as an anti-burglary and anti-assault system. All the systems are integrated and managed by a special server.

End by autumn

The general contractor reveals that some finishing works, e.g. in social and office areas, will be completed before summer. All works, including start-ups and tests, will be completed by autumn.

The cost of the investment is almost PLN 156 million, of which PLN 90.1 million comes from EU funds obtained thanks to the involvement of the Pomeranian Voivodeship Marshal's Office in the project. To this sum we will also have to add the funds for which the university itself will equip this smart center with additional equipment - the total cost of the investment will therefore exceed PLN 200 million.

NDI is responsible for the construction of the main facility with an area of approximately 12 thousand square meters and for the development of the area around it. The scope of tasks also includes the finishing and equipment of rooms, as well as of one of the server rooms. The investor, i.e. Gdańsk University of Technology, is responsible for the purchase of the "supercomputer" and the equipment of the remaining server rooms.