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LA’s Power Provider Will Upgrade Its Big Power Drain

Los Angeles’ Department of Water and Power is building a new data center to replace its legacy space that was built in 1965.

Los Angeles’ Department of Water and Power is building a new data center to replace its legacy space that was built in 1965.

Over the last 18 months, the department has leased a new space and begun renovating it for LADWP’s specific needs.

“We are in the process of migrating that data center to a much more energy-efficient environment,” said David Alexander, LADWP’s chief information security officer.

The new data center will throw out the historical model of the "hot aisle, cool aisle." Classic mainframe styles drew cool air up through the servers and let the warm air rise away from machines.

“We’ve actually used plenum technology to isolate the hot aisles from the cold aisles, rather than have everything swirl within the same room,” Alexander said.

Plenum technology will separate the air in a separate space through the HVAC system.

“We’re in the process of building out our space in (the leased space) and moving into it,” Alexander said.

Techwire is working on a follow-up piece about the cost and scope of this project. Details to come.

Kayla Nick-Kearney was a staff writer for Techwire from March 2017 through January 2019.