B&M Powers Phase One of State-of-the-Art Data Centre in Vancouver
May 21, 2025
Progress is well underway on a state-of-the-art data centre in the historic Spencer Building, located within Vancouver’s Harbour Centre. This cutting-edge facility, named the Spencer Building Carrier Hotel, is poised to become one of Vancouver’s most advanced and sustainable data centres, setting new standards for the region’s technological infrastructure and environmental sustainability.
As the city’s demand for IT infrastructure and connectivity continues to surge, this project marks a significant milestone in addressing those needs. Black & McDonald’s British Columbia construction division is playing a key role in the first phase of construction, which will see the installation of three large chillers and an extensive network of interior piping designed to support the data centre’s operations.
The Spencer Building Carrier Hotel is a vital addition to Vancouver’s digital infrastructure. The demand for data centres has been rising rapidly across the city, driven by the expansion of cloud computing, 5G networks, and the growing influence of IoT (Internet of Things) technologies. This facility is designed to
accommodate these technological shifts, while maintaining a strong focus on sustainability.
“The project first came across our desk in 2020,” says Kyle Wisniewski, General Manager for British Columbia at Black & McDonald. “Over the past four years, we’ve gone through rounds of budgeting and design revisions with the owner. Now, we’re at the stage where everything’s been finalized, and we’re moving forward as the mechanical contractor for Phase One.”
For Black & McDonald, the work involves complex mechanical installations, including three large chillers and all the piping necessary to support the data centre’s cooling system. The project is expected to be completed by June 2025, with Phase Two following soon after.
