Bluebird Underground to expand

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Bluebird Network to expand Springfield Underground data center

The Bluebird Network LLC board voted Jan. 5 to expand its Springfield data center to the tune of an estimated $4.5 million to $5 million.

Bluebird Underground General Manager Todd Murren yesterday said the center would expand what he called its “white space” by 4,500 square feet. That would bring the white space — where clients store their servers — up to 22,000 square feet. With the expansion, Bluebird Underground would add a third two-megawatt generator, 14,000 more gallons of fuel storage and a second uninterruptible power supply system.

“All of those improvements will be underground,” Murren said of the data center operating in Springfield Underground.

Murren said the design of the expansion is currently being completed, after which the company will accept contractor bids.

The expansion would be the second since Bluebird Network purchased the data center formerly known as SpringNet Underground from City Utilities of Springfield for $8.4 million in 2014. In 2015 and 2016, the company doubled the center’s data storage space.

Murren said clients own all of the servers at Bluebird Underground, which operates a secure storage area for them. Existing customers who are growing their businesses, as well as expected new clients, necessitated the expansion, he said.

“We’re advertising in northwest Arkansas,” Murren said.

Bluebird Underground totals 80,000 square feet, which currently includes 17,500 square feet of white space, Murren said. It also has 40,000 square feet for mechanical systems, as well as space for offices and aisles.

“There is another 7,000 square feet of white space we can add and will add in the future,” he said of existing, unused space at the data center.