Spencer Building Carrier Hotel breaks ground on Vancouver data center

Spencer Building Carrier Hotel has obtained all necessary permits to begin building construction of its data center in the heritage section of Vancouver's iconic Harbour Centre.

Following a year of anticipation since the initial announcement, the new build promises to deliver extended power and connectivity to the downtown area and beyond.

Spencer Building Carrier Hotel, which is currently in its preconstruction phase, will fully begin construction in August, with completion and the launch of operations expected in the fourth quarter of 2024. Leveraging what it claims is an energy-efficient design that will leverage free cooling opportunities, this facility is set to be Vancouver's most advanced and sustainable data center, setting new benchmarks within the region’s industry for technology and ESG compliance.

Getting to this point was not easy. The company had to overcome what it said were “unique challenges” posed by Vancouver's constrained commercial real estate market. It found success by collaborating with Harbour Centre to repurpose the historic Spencer Building, originally built in 1926.

"The arrival of Spencer Building Carrier Hotel in Vancouver is a testament to our commitment to offering premiere data center services that are economically viable for our customers and backed by the rich connectivity legacy of Harbour Centre," said Chris Jones, Director of Data Center Infrastructure and Operations at Spencer Building Carrier Hotel. "We are proud to merge the history and experience of Harbour Centre as Vancouver's primary interconnection hub with our trailblazing innovations and customized service offerings. This unique blend will redefine the data center experience, helping us empower businesses and service providers of all sizes."

The Spencer Building Carrier Hotel not only addresses the pressing demand for the region's data center capacity but also strives to make these services more economical. In a city known for its high costs, the company aims to provide cost-effective solutions to customers in a premier location close to the rich connectivity ecosystem of Harbour Centre.

As a tribute to the collaboration between Harbour Centre and Spencer Building Carrier Hotel, the company unveiled an updated logo. The company said the refreshed logo visually captures the strength and essence of the relationship, embodying the meeting point of long-standing history and innovation.

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