“This is a significant investment in our community that will continue to pay dividends for years to come,” said Winston-Salem Mayor Allen Joines, who spoke yesterday at a grand-opening gala.   

According to DataChambers CEO Nicholas Kottyan, about half of the new 20,000-square-foot data center is already under contract to new clients, who plan to use the facility to house mission-critical computer systems. 

“We’ve been operating at capacity and now have the space we need for continued growth,” Kottyan said.  “We expect strong demand to continue as companies look for ways to accomplish more with increasingly limited information technology budgets.”

The new clients are among more than 110 companies who base their primary data networks and backup systems at DataChambers. 

Built 18 feet underground in a blast-resistant bunker, the new center features:

•       Power from an onsite Duke Energy substation, with four generators as backup.

•       Multilevel security, including biometric scanners, card scanners and a campus-wide surveillance system.

•       State-of-the-art, redundant fire suppression systems.

•       High-capacity and fully redundant HVAC systems.

•       Redundant fiber connectivity to major long-haul transport carriers.

•       Around-the-clock monitoring, with 24/7 access.

More than a dozen other companies from across the Triad were involved in the project, including general contractor Landmark Builders.  Duke Energy engineered and is providing the massive power infrastructure that supports the facility, and NewBridge Bank provided financing.