McKenney's installed a prefabricated chiller plant and piping system to support a data center in North Carolina on an aggressive schedule. They used Building Information Modeling (BIM) and prefabricated piping to minimize on-site congestion and optimize installation. Through detailed scheduling and coordination between trades, the chiller plant installation was completed in two weeks instead of the planned four weeks, and the on-site pipe fitting crew size was kept under 10 people.

1. Success is in the Details
McKenney’s installed a new
prefabricated chiller plant
and piping loop to support
up to nine megawatts of critical load for
a colocation data center in North Carolina.
THE CHALLENGE
The project had a very aggressive schedule
coupled with extensive scope in a small
area making the jobsite congested with
both personnel and materials. At times,
the workforce on the project exceeded
200 people.
THE SOLUTION
McKenney’s utilized Building Information
­Modeling
(BIM)—along with prefabricating
nearly all of the steel piping mains—to
minimize on-site congestion and optimize
installation efficiency. Pipe deliveries were
sequenced just-in-time and set in place upon
arrival, reducing on-site storage. To ensure an
on-time installation of the chiller plant, the
construction team created a detailed installa-tion
schedule utilizing heavy BIM coordination,
numerous trips to the factory and major
collaboration with all trades.
THE RESULTS
With the exception of the chiller plant
installation which took two rather than the
scheduled four weeks—on-site pipe-fitting
crew size was kept under 10.
PROJECT NAME
žž Colocation Data Centers
PROJECT LOCATION
žž Durham, North Carolina
PROJECT TEAM
žž Owner: Data Centers
žž General Contractor:
Holder Construction
žž Architect: O’Brien/Atkins
Associates, PA
žž Engineer: DLB Associates
Consulting Engineers, P.C.
žž Contractor: McKenney’s, Inc.
SPECIALIZATIONS
Building Information Modeling
Pipe Shop Prefab
Sheet Metal Shop Prefab
MARKETS
žž Mission Critical
www.mckenneys.com
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Atlanta, Georgia 30316
704-357-1200
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Charlotte, North Carolina 28214