Bluebird Network, a Midwest telco, is expanding the Bluebird underground data center located in a former mine in Springfield, Missouri. The expansion will add 4,700 square feet (440 sq m) of white space. 

The project will increase the total available white space to 22,300 square feet (2,100 sq m), with the remaining space holding critical mechanical and electrical support systems. Bluebird will also add another uninterruptible power supply (UPS), a third 2MW generator, and a new 10,000-gallon auxiliary fuel storage tank. This will allow the underground facility to operate independently for up to four days on generator power, as well as delivering additional A/B power to its customers.

All underground

All of this will be located 85 feet underground, in a disused limestone mine. Bluebird will continue its policy of keeping all mechanical electrical and IT systems unerground for protection against ”both natural and unnatural disasters”.

This expansion is the second of three planned since Bluebird Network acquired the data center in 2014

The first expansion, completed in 2016, added approximately 4,000 square feet of white space. A third expansion will eventually add another 7,000 square feet. 

“This expansion will increase the physical size of the data center and will augment our current processes to make the facility stronger,” said Michael Morey, president and CEO of Bluebird Network. “We will provide space to meet increased demand while enhancing our overall services.”

Previous upgrades have been carried out by Schneider Electric’s data center service provider team, using Schneider’s Uniflair cooling and RPP (remote power panel) modular power system.