Digital Realty has officially opened FRA18, a state-of-the-art data centre located within the former Neckermann headquarters in Frankfurt, making it Germany’s first data centre housed in a historically preserved building.
Situated within the Digital Park Fechenheim campus, FRA18 offers 8,200 square metres of colocation space and an IT capacity of 16 megawatts (MW), designed to support high-performance computing (HPC) and artificial intelligence (AI) workloads. The centre opens with an initial capacity of 6.4MW, with 9.6MW planned for future phases.
The facility features advanced liquid cooling technology and integrates ServiceFabric™, enabling customers to access SCION (Scalability, Control, and Isolation On Next-Generation Networks), a next-generation secure internet protocol.
Volker Ludwig, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, DACH, at Digital Realty, emphasized the company’s commitment to combining innovation with heritage preservation.
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“Our vision for Digital Park Fechenheim is innovation at every level,” Ludwig said. “We are committed to preserving the historic significance of the site while delivering cutting-edge technology solutions that empower our customers and enhance data security.”
The redevelopment of the iconic Egon Eiermann-designed building preserves key architectural features, including its distinctive staircases, balconies, and rainwater management systems, reflecting Digital Realty’s dedication to sustainable innovation.
Ludwig further highlighted the collaboration with local authorities in bringing the project to life.
“This milestone reinforces our commitment to environmental stewardship,” he added. “By collaborating with the City of Frankfurt and the State of Hesse, we have created a concept that respects heritage preservation while promoting energy efficiency.”
