Pixar Animation Studios | Annex Data Center

Introba provided mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and commissioning services for Pixar Animations Studios' Annex Data Center in Emeryville, CA, United States.

Pixar Animation Studios consolidated their existing render, network, and storage servers into their existing Renderfarm server room. The new load exceeded the capacity of the existing MEP support equipment, which was at the end of its useful life. Pixar took this opportunity to increase the MEP support equipment's efficiency substantially.

Introba (formerly Integral Group) produced concept design and analysis for hand-off to the design building contractors, reviewed the final design and installation, and acted as the commissioning agent on this exciting project.

The increasing load density of the server room greatly favors the use of liquid-cooled equipment for both operating cost reductions and constructability issues. The final cooling solution relies primarily on water-cooled cabinet-connected cooling units. These units fit into the server row, where they create both a hot and cold aisle enclosed within the racks. Emeryville has a very suitable climate to utilize waterside economizing, a form of free-cooling for around 95% of the year, with cooling towers and heat exchangers forming the basis of the cooling system.

Through functional testing, Introba confirmed that the systems could switch smoothly to Pixar's generator in the event of a power loss. The result is not only one of the most energy-efficient data centers in operation but also one of the most reliable.

Project Highlights

Consolidated existing render, network, and storage servers into existing Renderfarm server room and increased MEP support equipment's efficiency
Cooling solution relies primarily on water-cooled cabinet-connected cooling units to create both a hot and cold aisle enclosed within the racks
Uses free-cooling for around 95% of the year, with cooling towers and heat exchangers forming the basis of the cooling system
Functional testing confirmed systems could switch smoothly to Pixar's generator in the event of a power loss
One of the most energy-efficient and reliable data centers in operation