Historic Neckermann site in Frankfurt-Ostend transformed into a data center

In the heart of Frankfurt-Ostend, a historic building designed by renowned architect Egon Eiermann will soon be transformed into a state-of-the-art data center. This is part of Digital Realty's latest project, the Digital Park Fechenheim, which is set to span around 100,000 square meters of IT infrastructure and be completed by 2030.

The former Neckermann building, a protected ribbed structure completed in 1960, will remain standing despite the modern technology being installed. The characteristic facade, featuring connecting stairs, balconies, and a rainwater collection system, will be preserved. Behind this approximately 300-meter-long facade, five of the planned data centers (FRA 17 to FRA 21) will be built.

One of the key features of this project is its focus on sustainability. The technology used raises the temperature of the waste heat to a level suitable for office and storage spaces via heat pumps. This innovative approach is expected to save at least 252 tons of CO2 per year, with the potential to save up to 689 tons with the use of green electricity certificates.

Around 30,000 square meters of space from real estate company OSWE, including Moebelums, will be supplied with heat from the data center. The operator, Digital Realty, plans to make the waste heat from data centers in Digital Park Fechenheim usable for the surrounding area from 2026.

However, it's important to note that despite server cooling via a closed water system, high energy consumption remains due to the power demand of the servers being substantial. The operator expects a demand of up to 16 megawatts of electricity for the data center due to its high computing power.

The Digital Park Fechenheim is the fifth campus in Frankfurt for Digital Realty. The recently completed data center FRA18 offers 8,200 square meters of space and is specifically designed for applications in the field of Artificial Intelligence (AI).

The long-term sustainability and ecological balance of the Digital Park Fechenheim remain to be seen. As this pilot project progresses, it will be interesting to observe its impact on the environment and the surrounding community.