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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Cavern Technologies added 60,000 square feet to its Lenexa, Kansas, data center in 2014, nearly doubling the 65,000 square feet it had already built for customers. The company later described the resulting site as 120,000 square feet of wholesale colocation space. The facility sits 125 feet underground in the Meritex caves, where stable temperatures and rock overhead offer practical advantages for data-center operations.
How much did Cavern’s data center expand?
Data Center Knowledge reported on December 30, 2014, that Cavern had commissioned 60,000 square feet in the first phase of an expansion, after building 65,000 square feet for customers. Cavern’s January 2015 release called the resulting footprint 120,000 square feet. The release’s rounded total is consistent with an expansion that nearly doubled the previously built space, rather than an exact doubling.
The newly commissioned pod had 2.5 megawatts of power. Cavern said the overall site could reach 50 megawatts, a stated site capacity rather than the power capacity of that individual pod. Data Center Knowledge’s 2014 account and Cavern’s January 2015 announcement describe the expansion.
Where is the underground data center?
The facility is at 17501 West 98th Street in Lenexa, Kansas, in the Meritex caves, about 15 miles south of Kansas City. Construction and current operator materials place it 125 feet underground. JE Dunn Construction’s project record documents later expansion work, while LightEdge’s Lenexa data-center page describes the current facility.
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- Save valuable floor space: 6U wall mount server cabinet Dimensions: 13.78" H x21.65" W x17.72" D.Maximum mounting depth is 14.2"
- Keep critical network equipment secure: glass door and side panels are lockable to prevent unauthorized access. Front door can be installed on either side of the front of the cabinet to satisfy your door swing orientation preference
- Easy equipment configuration: Fully adjustable mounting rails and numbered U positions, with square holes for easy equipment mounting with top and bottom punch-out panels for easy cable access
- Durability: Made of high quality cold rolled steel holds up to 110lb (50kg) (Easy Assembly Required)
- PCI & HIPPA and EIA/ECA-310-E compliant
Why put a data center in a cavern?
More stable cooling conditions
Cavern said the cave’s ambient temperature stays around 68°F year-round. A steadier surrounding temperature can reduce exposure to seasonal Kansas temperature swings and the cooling burden associated with them. Cavern president John Clune said, “With the consistent ambient temperature, our cooling costs are lower than above ground.” That is the operator’s explanation of the benefit, not a published independent energy comparison.
Protection from severe weather
Rock overhead helps shield equipment from above-ground hazards such as tornadoes and ice storms. The underground location does not eliminate all risks to a data center: power, cooling, fire protection, connectivity and secure access still need engineered safeguards and operational planning.
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- Save valuable floor space: 12U wall mount server cabinet Dimensions: 24.25" H x21.65" W x17.72" D. MAXIMUM MOUNTING DEPTH is 14.2".
- Keep critical network equipment secure: glass door and side panels are lockable to prevent unauthorized access; Front door can be installed on either side of the front of the cabinet to satisfy your door swing orientation preference
- Easy equipment configuration: Fully adjustable mounting rails and numbered U positions, with square holes for easy equipment mounting with top and bottom punchout panels for easy cable access
- Durability: Made of high quality cold rolled steel holds up to 110lb (50kg) (Easy Assembly Required)
- PCI & HIPPA and EIA/ECA-310-E compliant
What infrastructure supports the facility?
Cavern’s 2015 description listed systems intended to support continuous colocation operations:
- Dual power feeds, fully redundant UPS systems and generators.
- Redundant HVAC and heat/cooling sinks.
- FM-200 fire suppression.
- Biometric, card and video security, with 24/7 access.
- Connectivity from multiple fiber providers.
These are features reported by Cavern; the announcement does not provide a current service-level agreement, certification list, uptime record or independent verification. Current LightEdge materials describe scalable rack space, private suites and hybrid-cloud and colocation services.
Rank #3
- Sturdy:4u server rack is construct from cold rolled steel, with a weight capacity of 110lbs(50kg); Electrostatic powder coat prevents rust and corrosion,quality finish
- Direct use:Open and use, not having to assemble it.Network rack can be placed flat or mounted on the wall,also can be installed vertically under the table
- Design Features:maximum mounting depth of 14 in,cables can be fixed on the side panel;Open frame server rack achieves effortless inspection, replacement and assemble
- Installation:wall mount network rack is easy to install,with instructions or videos for reference;Equipped with multiple accessories, suitable for different needs
- Application:EIA/ECA-310-E Compliant;wall mounted 4u rack fits all 19" racks and cabinets to hold various IT, network, and AV equipment;wall mount rack available in 4U, 6U, and 8U to choose
Did the site keep expanding after 2014?
Yes. Cavern had earlier announced plans for another 100,000 square feet, targeting 160,000 square feet total. That was a plan, not evidence that the target was immediately completed. Construction records subsequently document a 16,000-square-foot phase in 2016 and a 28,203-square-foot phase in 2019; JE Dunn records six expansions since 2012. These later additions show continued development, but the listed phase areas should not be treated as a verified current total without a current operator figure.
Cavern is now operated under LightEdge. LightEdge’s current Lenexa page describes the site and available services, but the information cited here does not establish a current total of usable square footage, power capacity, occupancy or pricing. Enterprises evaluating the site should request those figures and confirm availability, redundancy design, carrier options and service-level commitments directly with LightEdge.
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