In Mesa, Arizona, JE Dunn teams are hard at work on the first of three major data centers for our confidential client known as Centurion. The project, internally titled MSA-1A, is the Phoenix office’s latest venture in one of the largest data center markets in the country.
The 308,000 square foot facility sits on 188 acres and has an estimated completion date of June 2025. In the meantime, the team in Phoenix has been working to develop expertise and practices to help position JE Dunn to accept new opportunities in the market with other clients in the Phoenix area.
“It’s been a really good opportunity for Phoenix employees to get Mission Critical experience on this big project,” Lead Superintendent Tom Melton said.
Through gaining experience with a generally young group, there have been many challenges to overcome. However, Senior Project Manager Ryan Bradshaw said the team was up to the task.
“It’s collectively everyone banding together saying, ‘Hey, we’re going to figure this thing out together,’” Bradshaw said. “We have relied heavily on the portion of team members who have worked for this client before, both new and long-term JE Dunn employees.”
Along with many obstacles the group has faced, Mesa experienced a record number of consecutive days over 110 degrees. Due to hard work and diligent preparation, the project has seen zero heat-related illnesses, according to Melton. Preventive measures include shifting work start times, operating overnight shifts, providing site-wide cooling stations, and ensuring proactive medic teams regularly walk the site.
The work done at MSA-1A is a testament to the fact that when one office succeeds, the entire company succeeds. Because of the complex nature of data center construction, the MSA-1A group has relied heavily on national collaboration and support. Members of the Advanced Facilities Group have been able to share their knowledge and experience, like in handling large-scale shipments and preparing the site accordingly.
In addition to gaining expertise, MSA-1A has allowed JE Dunn to succeed financially as well. To comply with the City of Mesa and combat large-scale water usage, MSA-1A utilizes an air-cooled HVAC system to regulate the temperature inside the building. Rather than going through other channels, Centurion acquired the system through JE Dunn.
“When you talk about benefiting the ESOP, that’s $60 million worth of equipment that we were able to purchase and put fees on, versus the owner doing it,” Bradshaw said.
The team’s dedication to overcoming adversity and diversifying their expertise shows a commitment to lifting up the company as a whole. In Mesa, this attitude of overcoming is what leads to success.
“I’m most proud of how this new team is working together and the fact that we’re within our goal of hitting our milestones for these early turnover dates,” Bradshaw said. “The team is always working to figure out how to solve problems.”
