New in OS X: Get MacRumors Push Notifications on your Mac

Resubscribe Now Close

Apple Begins Construction on First Phase of Oregon Data Center

Friday October 19, 2012 7:41 am PDT by Eric Slivka
The Oregonian reports (via Wired) that Apple has begun construction on the $68 million first phase of its data center project in Prineville, Oregon. The first phase will see the construction of one of two 338,000 square foot buildings planned for the site, but that building will apparently only be partially fitted out for the time being.
The price tag covers the cost of one building and two "data halls" inside. Plans filed with the city and Crook County last summer call for adding a second building and, eventually, 14 more data halls.

There's additional space on the property for more buildings, identified in planning documents in two sections marked "Future Development Area."
Soon after purchasing the data center site in February of this year, Apple opened a 10,000 square foot modular data center to establish a presence there, but with permanent construction now underway Apple's longer-term vision is starting to play out.


Apple has been rapidly expanding its data center capacity at sites around the United States, expanding beyond the company's long-standing sites at its corporate headquarters in Cupertino, California and nearby Newark with a massive new facility in Maiden, North Carolina and now starting to bring its Prineville site online. The company has also announced plans for a data center outside of Reno, Nevada.

[ 31 comments ]


Top Rated Comments

(View all)

Avatar
GenesisST
83 months ago

How can you say that with no info available.


Well, he did post a link.

But still a dick measuring contest.

Who cares who's the best? As long as both (and other companies) make a conscious effort to be energy efficient, we all win. (and as long as it is a real effort and not a PR ploy).
Rating: 5 Votes
Avatar
MacVault
83 months ago
You wonder how efficient Apple's DC will be but already know Google wins?! ;)
Rating: 5 Votes
Avatar
everything-i
83 months ago

How can you say that with no info available.


Don't feed the trolls ;)
Rating: 3 Votes
Avatar
subsonix
83 months ago

Wow..

Wonder how energy effient it will be..... Google wins hands down here :-


How can you say that with no info available.
Rating: 2 Votes
Avatar
Solomani
83 months ago


Who cares who's the best? As long as both (and other companies) make a conscious effort to be energy efficient, we all win. (and as long as it is a real effort and not a PR ploy).


Ah, you are the voice of reason on this thread. Posts like yours do not belong on MR. :D
Rating: 2 Votes
Avatar
subsonix
83 months ago

Well, he did post a link.


But a meaningless link, since it doesn't address how energy efficient Apple's (still non existent) Oregon data center is or what it uses or looks like.
Rating: 1 Votes
Avatar
Thunderhawks
83 months ago

Will Siri be snappier when this comes online.;)


No, only Safari !
Rating: 1 Votes
Avatar
DamonBowser
83 months ago

Wow..

Wonder how energy effient it will be..... Google wins hands down here :-


http://www.google.com/about/datacenters/


Inside Street View :- http://goo.gl/Rr7Fl

So, this is where all our money we pour into Mac hardware is going...


I am being sarcastic when I say this and have no plans to do things. And yes I know Google's data centers have very high security. BUT thank you google for making it that much easier for someone to sabotage that data center. :) Yes lets get any potential terrorists a basic map of the data center!!! With full 360 degree visuals!!!! :rolleyes:
Rating: 1 Votes
Avatar
cluedweasel
83 months ago

I see they know that Oregon = Rain.


Nope. Here in the high desert (I live about 15 miles west of Prineville), it's a very dry climate. We run around 9 inches of rain per year. The big draw for data centers is that it always cools off a lot at night, year round. Even on 90F+ summer days, the temperature drops into the 40s at night.
Rating: 1 Votes
Avatar
matty.p
83 months ago

I see they know that Oregon = Rain.


It's eastern/central Oregon. There's very little to no rain actually. I believe it's 300+ days of sunshine.


Also in regards to the troll post regarding Google data centers, right on Apple's site it says: "Apple’s data center in Prineville, Oregon. Our newest data center, located in Prineville, Oregon, is just getting under way and will be every bit as environmentally responsible as our Maiden data center. At Prineville we have access to enough local renewable energy sources to completely meet the needs of the facility. To achieve that goal, we’re working with two local utilities as well as a number of renewable energy generation providers to purchase wind, hydro, and geothermal power — all from local sources."

In re of efficiency it seems to outpace Google, "Building the world’s most environmentally responsible data centers begins with industry-leading energy-efficient design. Because the more efficient a facility is from the outset, the less energy is required to power it over time. Our Maiden facility has earned the coveted LEED Platinum certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. No other data center of this scale has achieved this high level of LEED certification. Qualifying for LEED Platinum certification requires meeting extremely rigorous standards for energy efficiency. The Maiden data center was designed and built from the ground up to meet those requirements."
Rating: 1 Votes

[ Read All Comments ]