Involta, LLC, today announced plans to build a data center in Armstrong County, Pa. UPMC, a leading integrated healthcare provider and insurer, will be the anchor tenant and selected Involta to build, own and operate the multi-tenant facility in the Northpointe Business Park. The high-security, concurrently maintainable data center will also house mission-critical computer systems and provide related managed services for other Involta clients from the vibrant Pittsburgh technology sector.
Pittsburgh-based UPMC is the largest nongovernmental employer in Pennsylvania, with 60,000 employees, more than 20 hospitals, more than 500 doctors’ offices and outpatient sites, and a 3 million-member Insurance Services Division. Affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences, UPMC ranks No. 12 in the U.S. News & World Report Annual Honor Roll of America’s Best Hospitals.
“By leveraging Involta’s assets and services, UPMC will continue to be a leader in applying technology to address the quality and cost challenges facing our industry,” said UPMC Chief Information Officer Ed McCallister. “This new data center will allow us to expand our capacity for storing and transmitting data at a lower cost than building it ourselves, while also improving our ability to recover and restore critical data in the event of emergencies.”
Widely acclaimed for its industry-leading information technology expertise, UPMC will use Involta’s facility to enable a more scalable and elastic IT capability while achieving its hybrid-cloud computing strategy. “Software as a service (SaaS) is changing the dynamics of how and where we secure, manage and operate our systems,” said McCallister. “The flexibility offered by Involta will help us to continue providing world-class services to our patients and members in a cost-efficient manner.” UPMC will also continue to operate a data center in Pittsburgh.
Involta has built a strong reputation for providing world-class IT solutions to healthcare providers across the country. All of the company’s 14 data centers are compliant with federal regulation and HIPAA standards, and include an Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) focus.
“Involta has developed a unique competency in delivering both data center and managed services to the healthcare industry,” said Involta Founder and Chief Executive Officer Bruce Lehrman. Today more than 40% of Involta’s revenue is generated by healthcare-related organizations. “UPMC’s decision to choose Involta demonstrates its commitment to wanting nothing but the best for its patients and physicians,” continued Lehrman.
Involta’s Northpointe facility will consist of nearly 40,000 square feet, including conditioned data center space, additional storage space, mechanical and electrical infrastructure, and additional office space for client and business continuity use. The data center will be concurrently maintainable, with redundant capacity (power, cooling and connectivity) components and multiple independent distribution paths serving the computer equipment. The facility will also feature biometric security and 24/7/365 monitoring and access. Involta clients will have access to the entire suite of technical services the company offers.
“Northpointe and its proximity to the Pittsburgh marketplace make it very attractive to companies with a national brand, such as Involta, to invest”, said Senator Don White, PA 41st. “The utility infrastructure the Armstrong County Industrial Development Council built in Northpointe is first class, and includes one of the most reliable electric systems and a world class telecommunications system with multiple sources of independent fiber connecting Northpointe with the entire Pittsburgh region. On behalf of State Representative Jeff Pyle, the Armstrong County Commissioners and Armstrong County Industrial Development Council, we thank Involta and UPMC for investing in Northpointe.”
Involta assets now include 14 data centers, more than 5,500 fiber miles and nearly 200 employees. Involta’s Pennsylvania footprint includes connections to the company’s Ohio data centers in Akron, Columbus, Cleveland and two facilities in Youngstown. Upon completion of the Northpointe facility, Involta’s capital investment in the greater Pittsburgh market will total nearly $16 million.
A celebration of the Northpointe data center is scheduled at the site on Thursday, October 27 at 3:30 PM. Speakers will include UPMC CIO Ed McCallister and Involta CEO Bruce Lehrman, among other public and private sector leaders.
