A complete renovation for San Francisco VA’s Sterile Processing Dept
Our team at Spur was tapped to upgrade the James H. Quillen VA Medical Center’s Main Computer Room to meet the standards for a Tier 3 data center — necessary for supporting their Electronic Health Record Modernization (EHRM) goals. This upgrade needed to ensure multiple paths for power and cooling, keeping systems operational even during planned maintenance or station-wide power outages.
Client
James H. Quillen VA Medical Center
Location
Johnson City, TN
Challenge
This VA’s computer room needed redundant power, better cooling, and equipment upgrades, but the real challenge was replacing equipment within an existing space without taking the room offline. The raised flooring system also didn’t meet VA standards, requiring a careful plan for flooring removal and replacement. Additionally, this project involved asbestos and lead abatement, seismic code compliance, and complex structural analysis — all the while needing to maintain uninterrupted operations during construction.
Solution
To navigate these challenges, we explored three solutions. The first was to suspend the existing equipment from the ceiling, allowing us to remove the raised flooring underneath, abate the space, install new flooring, and replace the equipment in phases. However, this plan proved impractical due to the structural complexity of supporting the suspended equipment. The second option was to extend the work area into an adjacent corridor and temporarily relocate equipment there, but we quickly found this unfeasible due to limited cabling slack and the risk of having to shut down the room entirely. Ultimately, the VA chose the third solution: relocation. This solution allowed us to keep the current equipment online during construction, making it the most cost-effective and least disruptive option.
Result
Our upgrades transformed the computer room into a Tier 3 data center that meets VA standards and ensures reliability for the future of the VA’s EHRM goals. This project is a prime example of our team’s ability to tackle complex challenges and deliver solutions that align with both operational needs and budget.
