Case Study
Stack Infrastructure MEL01A & MEL01B
Launch of Melbourne's first hyperscale data center campus—72 MW across two purpose-built facilities establishing Stack's APAC presence.
Project Overview
MEL01A and MEL01B were the first two purpose-built data centers in Stack Infrastructure's Melbourne campus, each providing 36 MW of IT capacity. Opened in 2023, these three-story facilities together deliver ~72 MW to the high-growth hyperscale corridor in Western Melbourne.
The campus features nine data halls in A and 12 in B, plus an onsite substation for reliable power. MEL01A went live in August 2023 as Stack's first APAC data center.
Key Metrics
- Total Capacity: 72 MW (36 MW each)
- Data Halls: 21 total (9 in A, 12 in B)
- Floors: 3 per building
- Milestone: Stack's first APAC facility
My Role
As Senior Project Planner, I was responsible for project schedule management during the execution of MEL01A & B:
- Developing the baseline construction program
- Monitoring critical paths for long-lead mechanical/electrical systems
- Coordinating parallel workstreams across concurrent construction
- Facilitating daily coordination meetings between civil contractors, vendors, and commissioning teams
Challenges & Solutions
A key challenge was coordinating parallel workstreams—both buildings were being constructed concurrently to meet hyperscaler demand. When late design changes occurred to meet a client's technical requirements, I negotiated resequencing of certain fit-out activities to absorb the change without affecting overall completion.
My focus on open communication and evidence-based planning (using metrics like installation rates and testing durations) provided the client and contractors with confidence. Ultimately, both MEL01A and B were delivered on schedule, enabling Stack's client to commence operations on time.