When did you start working with QTS?
With a decade-long history, Mortenson’s first project with QTS Data Centers began in 2014 in Chicago, IL, laying the foundation for successful partnership and coinciding with the opening of Mortenson’s local office in Washington, D.C. This strategic move has facilitated our continued partnership and growth, leveraging our national data center expertise in the data center capital of the world in northern Virginia. Mortenson is excited for QTS’ continued growth in the market, and reinforcing our longstanding working relationship.
Tell us about the QTS and Mortenson partnership.
The Mortenson decade-long partnership with QTS is built on trust and shared values, fostering growth and collaboration nationwide. Our recognition as one of QTS’ top general contractors at their 2023 innovation summit underscores the strength of our relationship. As QTS expands into regions where Mortenson is present, we will continue to share local expertise, knowledge, and insights supporting QTS facility launches, enhancing both companies’ growth and development.
How many people are on site at any given time?
At any given time, Mortenson has over 150 craft and non-craft team members dedicated to our QTS active projects nationwide as our teams worked on (11) projects collectively across the country in 2023.
How is safety prioritized on our partnered builds?
At Mortenson, we prioritize the safety and well-being of every individual involved in our projects, recognizing their invaluable contributions towards delivering exceptional experiences for our customers including QTS. We prioritize open communication, presenting at monthly safety discussions to facilitate the sharing of best practices and lessons learned among all partners. This collaborative approach aids in enhancing our collective industry experiences while ensuring the protection of property and the elimination of personal injury.
In addition to fostering communication, we proactively inform the operations and development teams about high-risk work activities, potential impacts to QTS, and utility shut-offs, fostering collaboration to develop comprehensive methods of procedures and safety protocols to eliminate unplanned disruptions. Our rigorous safety measures include detailed energization scripts for equipment activation and continuously updated live utility awareness plans to minimize disruptions.
As data center equipment demands surge, we adapt by capturing and addressing manufacturer defects, enhancing inspection checkpoints to all Mortenson and QTS projects nationwide. Our meticulous planning processes, spanning pre-construction to project completion, prioritize safety and prevent schedule disruptions. Coordination for high-risk activities starts well in advance, allowing QTS ample preparation time.
Furthermore, our commitment to integrity and accountability strengthens our partnership with QTS and trade partners. Our job site practices reflect our values. We strive to inspire excellence, placing the needs of QTS and our collaborators at the forefront of all projects.
What is one highlight of a recent QTS and Mortenson partner build?
QTS and Mortenson are both focused on building great data centers and serving the communities we live in together. We are committed to improving communities and changing lives to enrich our employees and members of the communities in which we serve by supporting team members to follow their passions, amplifying our reach in the communities where we live and work through giving, volunteering, and community leadership.
This was highlighted recently by our team’s volunteering together at the Wreaths Across America at Arlington National Cemetery to remember the fallen, honor those that serve and their families, and teach the next generation about the value of freedom. This shared commitment to veterans, first responders, and their families has enabled our teams to not only make an impact, but to broaden our reach through partnership.
What is a unique facet of a data center build vs various other types of builds?
One of the most unique aspects of a data center build is the agility required by all stakeholders involved to make the project successful. Data center construction’s speed to market, from the initial site selection to final commissioning moves at a rapid pace which requires the entire team of customers, designers, vendors, and construction teams to be able to make quick, collaborative decisions that maintain project momentum.
As changes arise such as supply chain issues with equipment, the teams must swiftly adjust to evaluate constructability and sequencing with the construction teams and vendors, design considerations and systems with the engineers, and program operations with customers, to make a collective decision at a high speed. The flexibility our key stakeholders demonstrate in adapting to changing environments for safe, high quality, and on-time delivery is unmatched.
