Yahoo’s second “Computing Coop” data center was an expansion of its Lockport, New York, campus, announced in 2013 and online by April 2015. Its distinctive coop-shaped building drew in outside air to cool servers, relying on evaporative cooling during hotter conditions instead of conventional mechanical chillers. The completed expansion included two 30,000-square-foot computer rooms and 7.2 megawatts of hydropower.
What Yahoo launched in Lockport
Yahoo announced the Lockport expansion in March 2013. The company said the project would use its Yahoo Compute Coop (YCC) architecture, build on its existing Lockport site, create 115 jobs, and use outside-air cooling for approximately 98% of the year, according to Yahoo’s announcement carried by Business Wire.
The second data center was online by April 2015 as part of a $170 million expansion, reported Data Center Knowledge. The completed expansion had two 30,000-square-foot computer rooms and 7.2 megawatts of hydropower. Yahoo senior director of data-center operations Paul Bonaro said there was “a good chance” Yahoo services such as Mail, Tumblr, or Flickr were being served from Lockport; that describes the campus generally, not a guarantee about any individual user’s traffic.
The expansion followed an earlier phase: the New York State Senate recorded Phase I as completed in September 2010. Its account reported a $171 million overall project investment, 10 MW of low-cost NYPA hydropower for Phase I, and another 5 MW planned for Phase II. Those figures describe the Senate’s earlier project reporting and are not interchangeable with the later account of the completed expansion’s 7.2 MW.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems#1 Best Overall
- 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
How the chicken-coop design cooled servers
The building’s shape was intended to encourage natural airflow. Large louvers in the side walls admitted outside air, which passed across the servers. As the warmed air rose into the upper plenum, it left through high louvers. This airflow approach avoided mechanical chillers; evaporative cooling was used when outside conditions were too hot for outside air alone, as described by Data Center Knowledge.
Yahoo’s 2013 announcement said the facility could use outside-air cooling for approximately 98% of the year. That is Yahoo’s reported operating estimate, not a guarantee for every weather condition or a claim that the facility never used supplemental cooling.
Rank #2
- Universal 19” Rack Mount Compatibility – Perfect for pro audio, video, IT, and network gear. Compatible with mixers, routers, patch panels, servers, power amps, and more.
- Heavy-Duty Load Capacity – Built to support up to 550 lbs. Ideal for studio gear, DJ setups, server equipment, and AV components that demand serious stability.
- Robust Steel Frame & Design – Made with 1.5mm thick steel and weighs 36 lbs for maximum durability, reduced vibration, and long-term reliability in any setting.
- Mobile & Secure – Preinstalled with 3” industrial-grade caster wheels (lockable), making it easy to move and position your rack exactly where you need it.
- All-In-One Setup Kit Included – Comes with 34 rack screws (5mm & 6mm), a 1U blank spacer, and an assembly tool—ready for fast installation out of the box.
The U.S. Department of Energy characterized YCC as an “efficient data factory” research project. Its goals included free cooling, lower energy use, less waste, simpler construction, and lower operating costs. The project is documented in the U.S. Department of Energy report.
What the efficiency figures do—and do not—show
Power usage effectiveness (PUE) is a data-center efficiency measure: total facility energy divided by the energy used by IT equipment. A lower PUE means less overhead energy per unit of IT energy, but it does not by itself establish the facility’s total energy consumption, water use, or environmental impact.
Rank #3
- ADJUSTABLE DEPTH: 4- Post 22U 19" server rack enclosure with 4 vertical rails and adjustable mounting depth 5.7" to 33.0" (14,4cm to 83,8cm); IT rack is compatible with various servers / switches / data / video / AV and other IT networking equipment
- EASY SHIPPING AND ASSEMBLY: Enclosed 22U data rack cabinet ships compact flat-packed to avoid damage and facilitate installation; Include wheels & levelling feet to offer more stability; Home server rack cabinet is only 46.6in (118,3cm) in height
- DESIGN AND VENTILATION: Half height server rack cabinet has lockable and removable door and side panels with vented top allowing airflow; 4 Post 19" rack with 1764lb (800kg) weight capacity (stationary); Computer cabinet rack is EIA/ECA-310-E Compliant
- HARDWARE INCLUDED: Rolling home network rack includes rack mounting and equipment mounting hardware, such as 20 M6 cage nuts / screws, PVC cup washers; Front/rear doors and side panels Keys, 2x allen keys; Rack assembly hardware; Casters and leveling feet
- THE IT PRO'S CHOICE: Designed and built for IT Professionals, this 22U IT Server Cabinet is backed for life, including free lifetime 24/5 multi-lingual technical assistance
| Figure | What it refers to |
|---|---|
| 1.08 PUE | Yahoo Lockport YCC example in a 2013 patent disclosure by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. |
| 1.25 PUE | Designed target for Yahoo Lockport YCC in the same 2013 patent disclosure. |
| 1.62 PUE | Santa Clara colocation comparison in that patent disclosure. |
These are engineering-disclosure examples, not a measurement series proving that every Yahoo facility operated at those values. The 1.62 comparison is for a Santa Clara colocation facility, not a controlled comparison of identical sites under identical conditions. The figures appear in the 2013 U.S. patent disclosure.
The reported PUE examples support the case that the YCC design could reduce cooling overhead relative to the cited comparison. They do not establish a universal efficiency advantage over conventional data centers: climate, workload, water use, power source, and measurement conditions all matter, and the cited figures are not a like-for-like test of facilities in the same location.
Rank #4
- DURABLE BUILD: Constructed from high-quality Cold Rolled Steel, the NavePoint Consumer Series 12U network cabinet boasts a sturdy, welded frame. Fitting EIA standard 19” networking equipment, this server cabinet confidently supports up to 110 lbs, providing a resilient base for your vital IT gear and equipment
- CONVENIENT DESIGN: This 12U cabinet features a reinforced, heat-treated, tempered glass front door with a security lock. Perfect for applications requiring both security and accessibility, its compact design of 17.72"L x 21.65"W x 24.42"H offers a practical solution for space-constrained settings.
- EASY & CUSTOMIZABLE EQUIPMENT SET UP - The 12U IT cabinet, with removable side panels and security locks, offers customization at its finest. Whether it's for an efficient device or cable management, this data cabinet ensures secure, adaptable configurations that suit your networking server requirements
- ENHANCED VENTILATION & SECURITY - Built-in fans and flow-through ventilation work to prevent overheating, ensuring optimal operation of your equipment. The reinforced, lockable tempered glass front door not only boosts security but also facilitates easy monitoring of installed equipment.
- SAFETY & COMPLIANCE - All NavePoint products are built to industry standards.
Why Yahoo chose Lockport
Lockport combined a cool climate suited to outside-air cooling with access to Niagara hydropower. Reporting also points to land and labor costs, an available workforce, and local tax incentives as parts of the location decision. The New York State Senate’s account documents the project’s hydropower arrangements; Data Center Knowledge discusses the Lockport expansion and its context.
The choice was therefore not simply about putting servers in a cold place. Cooling conditions, electricity supply and cost, construction economics, workforce, and public incentives all contributed to the campus’s appeal.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
