DataBank Waco ACT1

The site is a former zColo (Zayo) facility.

Site Details:

• Breakered and metered power available
• 2 generators, 2N configuration
• 2N UPC redundancy
• 2 MW of UPS capacity at 2N
• 2N power distribution architecture
• N+1 climate control systems

Site History

1956: The Fallout Shelter Origins

• The building at 700 Austin Avenue was originally constructed as a nuclear fallout shelter and command center for Southwestern Bell (now AT&T).
• The structure was built with massive reinforced concrete walls and specialized shielding to withstand a nuclear blast or EMP (Electromagnetic Pulse).

1996–2009: Clearview International Acquisition

• Clearview International, a Texas-based IT services provider, acquired the property with the intent to convert the hardened shell into a high-security data center.
• The site underwent extensive retrofitting to install modern power, cooling, and fiber infrastructure while maintaining the original 1950s structural integrity.

September 15, 2009: Official Launch as a Data Center

• Clearview officially opened the facility as the Information Technology Gateway (ITG).
• At launch, it was marketed as one of the most secure data centers in the region due to its underground placement and "fortress-like" construction.

April 2016: Zayo Group / zColo Acquisition

• Zayo Group acquired Clearview International for $18.9 million to expand its footprint in the Texas "Silicon Prairie."
• The Waco site became part of Zayo's zColo (colocation) brand, linking the facility directly to Zayo’s massive global fiber-optic network.

December 2020: DataBank Purchase

• In a massive $1.43 billion deal, DataBank acquired the majority of Zayo’s zColo data center assets.
• The Waco site was rebranded as DataBank ACT1 (with "ACT" representing the Waco/Austin-area cluster).

Present Day: Modernized Operations

• The facility currently operates as a 43,596 sq. ft. data center.
• It remains a key regional hub, offering SOC 1, SOC 2, HIPAA, and PCI-DSS compliance for healthcare, government, and enterprise clients.

Compliance:

• SSAE 16 (SOC 1) Type II
• SOC 2 Type II
• HIPAA / HITECH
• PCI DSS
• FISMA
• ISAE3402