Brownfield Data Center Deal
Context
Since this was a brownfield project, the Site Selection is two pronged. The land selection criteria was challenging and the building structure and characterstics even more. For brownfield searches, this was ardous due to lack of Data Center real estate history and become more of an elimination game. The case in discussion was to identify and location to setup a Data Center well inside Mumbai city limits, within the suburbs. However, purchasing land in highly urbanized area did not make financial sense and the look out was for a facility that was suitable to lease.
Approach
In a city where there are no older Data Center structures for Tier III and IV operations, the only chance of matching the criteria was old industrial buildings that can be modified. Elimination strategy took us to two prominent options, which had multiple floors and high floor strength.
Finding a building that can be converted into a Data Center, in a Mumbai suburb that does not have a history of modern data centers.
Massive elimination work done with every site in the suburb of Andheri East to filter the most probable options.
Identification of an out of market availability of an erstwile industrial use building with the plot matching the most important criteria of property selection. The building was found to be modification friendly. The property was under upgradation for almost a year and then occupied and made operational.