Mission Critical
Cerner Corporation World Headquarters Data Center
Kansas City, MO
Client: Cerner Corporation
Architect: Gould Evans
Size: 132,000 SF
Completion: 2007
As a leader in healthcare software, Cerner Corporation has undergone a major renovation to its headquarters campus, which is nestled in the hills of North Kansas City, Missouri. JE Dunn has been instrumental in building the master plan vision for Cerner's campus.
JE Dunn helped Cerner choose a heavily treed location on its world headquarters campus for their new data center that is able to withstand an F4 tornado. JE Dunn's first task included cutting into the side of a 70' hill and installing an earth-retaining wall. The actual bunker consists of 45' to 60' high single pour walls built with self-leveling concrete.
Upon completion, the project received great architectural reviews and accolades regarding quality and high-end finishes. Within the data center, there is a raised access floor, 6,000 KVA UPS, and an initial generator capacity of 6.75 MW and 270 W.
Nearing completion of the concrete bunker, JE Dunn broke ground on the included office area, which is a show space for the client. Guests enter on the ground level under a 25' cantilevered "jetway" into a secured lobby. The emergence of the exposed concrete wall signifies the bunkered areas. There is always a visual juxtaposition between the solid "secure" world of the bunker and the open, light glass and steel of the office and jetway. Finishes include a "security door" that weighs each visitor and allows only one person at a time to pass into the front lobby, metal ceilings from Switzerland, custom curved plaster walls, and circular meeting rooms where acoustics are a top priority. In some locations, 60" access flooring was installed to showcase systems to potential clients.
Awards:
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Concrete Promotional Group - Excellence in Concrete - 2007
