Critical infrastructure, no compromises: 27-machine lift for eStruxture in winter conditions

A two-week mobilization for a critical client

Neither rain, nor cold, nor snow will stop us from getting the job done. This eStruxture project — months of advance planning by our team — culminated in a two-week on-site mobilization to lift 27 large Vertiv DP-series cooling units onto the roof of an eStruxture data centre.

The lifts were carried out using a 650-ton crane reaching between 200 and 280 feet in height. Several streets were involved, multiple permits coordinated, and the work proceeded in winter conditions across the full two weeks.

Project team

• Sébastien Fan, project director — Kolostat
• Jean-Michel, health & safety and on-site logistics
• Kolostat field crews — execution

Partners

This was another successful chapter in our long-standing partnership with:

• JAVCO Mission Critical
• Construction Anjinnov Inc.
• Vertiv — equipment manufacturer
• Grues GUAY — crane operations

For our valued client, eStruxture Data Centers.

Why mission-critical lifts are different

Lifts on a data-centre roof are not a standard mechanical job. The equipment is heavy, expensive, sensitive, and time-critical to the client's operations. There's no margin for error: an accident in transit is not just a safety incident, it's a customer-uptime incident. The two weeks on site are the visible part. The months of staging — permits, lift studies, equipment scheduling, weather contingency — are where the project is actually won.

As you can see in the video, by day five we had 10 of the 27 machines on the roof, and by the end of the mobilization all 27 were placed. As with every project, a few unforeseen issues came up along the way — and thanks to the expertise and experience of the crews, they were handled in stride.

A very successful project, and a proud chapter in the eStruxture partnership.