About Forsythe
Forsythe in the News
Data Center Engineering News
Building a Dream Data Center
Jennifer Zaino / CIO Insight magazine
06.05.2008
Forsythe Builds “Dream Data Center” for Unison Health Plan … In 2006, Unison Health Plan found itself in the challenging, but not unusual, situation of needing a new data center “immediately.” Their old data center was facing a series of challenges that required remediation by retrofitting or expansion; at the same time, the lease on their entire facility–data center, call center and corporate offices–was expiring and they had outgrown the space due to dramatic growth in the number of employees. The decision was made to move to a new facility that could support the company’s growth from 300,000 members (customers) to well over 1 million.
For Unison CIO Steve Bugajski, the good news was that he got to build a whole new data center from scratch. The bad news? The entire project, which typically takes 18-24 months, would need to be completed in less than 6 months, with less than 4 months available to completely gut and then rebuild the new facility. This is not recommended for the faint of heart, but it was successfully accomplished.
Unison chose Forsythe to oversee the data center engineering — planning, design and construction — as well as migration/relocation of the IT environment from the old location to the new location.
Bugajski cites Forsythe’s “responsiveness, knowledge and flexibility” as invaluable in meeting the challenge. “Forsythe’s years of experience in planning, designing, building and relocating data centers was critical to our being able to get it done right on time. They helped us make the right decisions under tremendous time pressure, and kept our IT organization as well as the construction crew moving forward to a successful completion. The end result was a smooth, seamless transition to a data that really meets our needs and is easier to manage. Our employees left work Friday at 5pm and returned Monday morning able to start their week with no interruptions to their work flow.”
Steve was recently interviewed about the data center project by CIO Insight magazine. A condensed version of his comments is presented in the article, “Building a Dream Data Center” (published 6-5-08). http://www.cioinsight.com/c/a/Foreward/Building-a-Dream-Data-Center/
Forsythe’s work with Unison was also featured in Forsythe’s 2006 Annual report. http://www.forsythe.com/na/aboutus/annualreport
CHRISTUS Health Information Technology Center – Groundbreaking
San Antonio Economic Development Foundation
06.05.2008
November 29, 2007 (San Antonio, TX) CHRISTUS Health holds groundbreaking ceremony on-site for the construction of their multi-million dollar Tier III Information Technology Center located in the Westover Hills business area. The property is located at 10002 Rogers Run off of Rogers Rd. The new facility will help CHRISTUS maintain its high standards of care by providing innovative technology to deliver the most efficient and highest quality care possible for the thousands of patients served throughout the organization. The 47,000 square foot facility has a $23.5 million dollar budget with construction to begin in November 2007. The expected completion date is late 2008, with projected start up in the first quarter of 2009.
The facility will contain office space for an ITIL-based Service Desk, Network Operations and Security Operations Center for an anticipated staff of 80 Information Technology specialists when the facility is completed.
CHRISTUS has required that all aspects of the facility be architecturally-designed with the ecology of the Westover Hills area in mind, using design concepts and colors common to the natural appearance of the area. Environmentally, the building will be constructed to promote tree and natural flora preservation. All infrastructure equipment utilizes new technologies to promote efficient energy utilization and reduce operational costs.
CHRISTUS acknowledges the assistance of DPR Construction of Austin, the general contractor, TMI of Rolling Meadows, Illinois, as the designer and Forsythe Technologies as the design consultant.
SITE SELECTION
CHRISTUS conducts health care operations in seven states and Mexico. San Antonio was selected due to economic factors such as land and nationally-recognized power costs, award-winning telecom infrastructure, and a local workforce with data security skills. Other considerations included airline service from national carriers, insulation from natural disasters, and quality of life.
Forsythe and Pape-Dawson (local civil engineering firm) evaluated over nine properties within San Antonio area. CHRISTUS selected the Westover Hills development due to Developer Marty Wender’s planned infrastructure to support High Technology facilities.
ABOUT CHRISTUS Health
CHRISTUS Health is a Catholic, not-for-profit health care system with over 40 hospitals, long term acute care centers, home health, medical offices and related healch care services.
Note : MEDIA CONTACTS: Teri Cardenas: (210) 321-8034 Patricia Ward: (210) 321-8044
Christus Health set to begin construction on Westover Hills data center
San Antonio Business Journal
11.21.2009
Christus Health is set to break ground this month on the health system’s planned 47,000-square-foot Information Technology Center in the Westover Hills Business Area.
Once completed in late 2008, the new center will have a $23.5 million budget and will employ 80 information technology specialists to staff the service desk, network operations and security operations center. The center will start up sometime in the first quarter of 2009.
The center has been designed to accommodate an expansion of 150,000 square feet as Christus’ technology and patients needs grow.
DPR Construction of Austin is the general contractor. TMI of Rolling Meadows, Ill., is the designer, and Forsythe Technologies is the design consultant.
Christus has health care operations in seven states and Mexico. The company currently operates eight regional data centers primarily in Texas and Louisiana. Christus plans to consolidate data center operations where feasible in the third quarter of 2009.
Dallas-based Christus is a Catholic, not-for-profit health care system with more than 40 hospitals, long-term acute care centers, home health, medical offices and related health services. In San Antonio, the company operates Christus Santa Rosa Health Care.
