Yondr NOV1 Data Center
Project Stats
- Location
Aldie, VA
- Size
669,358 SF
- Cloud Capacity
96MW
- Market
- Expertise
First Site in the Americas
Yondr Group, a leading global data center developer, chose Corgan to design its first facility in the Americas for a campus in Aldie, Virginia. The design will serve as the prototype for future sites in the region.
Situated in the heart of “data center alley,” NOV1 is located on the south side of the 27-acre Project Allegro campus in Northern Virginia. The NOV1 facility comprises NOV1A and NOV1B, two structures built separately, and are now a conjoined building, each with 48MW cloud capacity. The completion of NOV1 is the first step in Yondr’s aim to provide a total capacity of 336 MW on the campus.
With a total square footage of 669,358, NOV1A includes a 42,916-square-foot office space and a 292,722-square-foot data hall; and NOV1B includes a 45,130-square-foot office space and a 288,490-square-foot data hall. Each of the two-story structures is equipped with four data halls, 40 sets of equipment lineups, and 30 air-cooled mechanical chillers.
Adapting a Global Vision for U.S. Standards
The Corgan team worked closely with city officials and stakeholders to assist Yondr in navigating the planning, development, and design process. Corgan's design complies with local ordinances and site requirements by employing varying materials, a cantilevered upper level, color accents, and glazed curtain wall facades.
Building on the client’s foreign market model, the team added security upgrades to meet U.S. regulations and sustainability standards. Corgan designed the data center to meet U.S. specifications, which require a more substantial structure than is typical for many European data centers, while maintaining a focus on sustainability and complementing its brand aesthetic. NOV1’s main envelope is made from precast concrete, rather than a metal frame, along with vehicle impact-rated perimeter fencing and site berms which provides added security and adheres to numerous noise reduction requirements.
A thermally insulated precast concrete was used on three sides of each building, reducing heating and cooling costs. The building's orientation maximizes daylighting and views to the north and south, while blocking direct sunlight from the east and west to minimize thermal heat transfer. The inclusion of an insulated, single-ply roofing membrane further reduces overall energy consumption.
The design surpasses energy code requirements in pursuit of Yondr's and Corgan's shared sustainability goals. Additionally, mature trees were planted around the internal site drives and around the perimeter to create buffers for sound and to enhance views. Greenery from a number of tree preservation areas along various wetlands on the site were also maintained. Further, environmental studies were conducted to confirm the building, and construction did not impact a nearby bald eagle’s nest.
Brand Elements Energize the Site
Corgan’s Brand + Graphics team worked with the client to develop a design strategy that integrated its brand while maintaining a simple aesthetic. Yondr’s signature red is woven throughout the site, from wayfinding signage and interior spaces — like tenant areas and break rooms — to the external façade.
The façade design is inspired by the slash cutting through the Yondr logo, with the windows envisioned as voids that interrupt the solid metal panel and concrete bands. The spacing of the windows contracts towards the center of the building, drawing the eye, and providing a focal point leading to the building’s entry and lobby. The windows provide site views and allow natural light into the public and office spaces, while the fins mitigate direct sunlight and bring in more of Yondr’s signature red.
Inside, a monumental stair in the double-height lobby establishes an immediate sense of scale. The project team collaborated closely with the client to achieve the perfect balance of color, a straightforward layout, and intuitive wayfinding. Within a sophisticated charcoal, black, and white palette, motivational phrases and quotations underscore the client’s identity in the central lobby, tenant areas, and break rooms. The resulting office environment inspires, yet remains highly functional and comfortable.
Future-Ready Design
Corgan’s NOV1 design will serve as the model for Yondr’s future data centers in the Americas, with adjustments for power needs and site constraints.
Adapting to Evolving Needs
When Yondr requested significant interior changes to secure a tenant, Corgan responded quickly. While the building shell — already under construction — remained unchanged, the administrative offices were redesigned to fulfill the tenant’s space requirements, impacting the rest of the layout.
Working closely with the client, the project team made adjustments to implement the changes without any construction delays. By coordinating with the client, tenant, and their security designer, the resulting design met both Yondr’s and the new tenant's requirements.
With their collaborative and innovative data center design process, Corgan has established a model for NOV1’s expansion into the Americas.
