1547 and Harrison Street recently acquired DRFortress, Hawaii’s leading carrier-neutral data centre, to expand digital infrastructure across the Pacific
1547 Critical Systems Realty (1547), a leading owner and operator of data centres and investment firm Harrison Street, last week announced they would be acquiring DRFortress, Hawaii’s largest carrier-neutral data centre, from GI Partners.
GI Partners initially acquired a majority interest in DRFortress in January 2020 in partnership with co-founders Fred Rodi and Rosa White. Under the organisation’s ownership, the data centre has nearly doubled its colocation capacity and strengthened its leadership in Hawaii’s digital infrastructure landscape.
DRFortress: The facts
Hawaii’s largest carrier-neutral data centre and cloud service provider
Digital hub for the state with the highest interconnection of IP carriers and networks
65,000+ square foot facility in Honolulu
800+ racks
Founded in 2006
The new partnership between 1547 and Harrison Street aims to build on that legacy, supporting DRFortress’ continued growth.
“Hawaii serves as a strategic gateway for connectivity in the Pacific and DRFortress has established itself as a vital interconnection hub for businesses and global networks alike,” explains J. Todd Raymond, CEO & Managing Director of 1547.
“By bringing DRFortress into our connectivity-focused platform, we’re expanding customer access to cloud providers, submarine cable systems and international markets – while maintaining its carrier-neutral foundation and continuing to scale to meet growing demand.”
Acquisition to boost regional interconnectivity
As part of plans to scale DRFortress, the data centre’s existing leadership team will remain in place following the acquisition, promoting the continuity of the business, the team and trusted service for customers and operating partners.
Founders Fred Rodi and Rosa White will continue to lead day-to-day operations to reinforce the company’s longstanding commitment to Hawaii’s business and technology community – all while maintaining a critical focus on delivering data centre services of the highest quality.
“Investing in essential digital infrastructure that meets the growing demand for secure, high-capacity interconnection is core to our strategy,” says Michael Borchetta, Managing Director at Harrison Street.
“DRFortress plays a significant role in supporting businesses across Hawaii and the broader APAC region, and we look forward to working alongside 1547 to expand its services.”
Key fact:
1547 is a developer, operator and owner of highly interconnected, custom-designed data centres with over 1.25 million square feet of space under management throughout North America. The company’s portfolio includes carrier hotels and connectivity hubs that provide tailored, mission-critical connectivity solutions.
Mark Prybutok, Managing Director and Head of Data Infrastructure at GI Partners, adds: “Over the past five years, we’ve been proud to support DRFortress’ growth as Hawaii’s leading interconnection hub.
“Fred, Rosa, and the entire DRFortress team have built an exceptional platform, and we are confident that 1547 and Harrison Street are the right development partners to lead its continued success.”
How the data centre market in Hawaii is growing
As Hawaii seeks to engage in digital transformation strategies, data centres are becoming increasingly more important for its digital economy.
The island state is increasingly developing technology, but its location in the Pacific Ocean means data stored in mainland America has to travel quite a distance, which inevitably creates latency and connectivity challenges.
Data centre development and construction within the region could not only lead to faster speeds for those in Hawaii, but also create jobs in the region for construction, maintenance, IT and network engineering.
Currently, Hawaii has six data centres according to datacenters.com and improved services could attract future investment. Its location could stand to interconnect US and APAC markets and serve as a critical connectivity point for global businesses.
“This next chapter with 1547 and Harrison Street represents a great opportunity for DRFortress and our customers,” says Rosa White, Co-President, CFO and co-founder of DRFortress.
“With added scale, investment, and expertise, we’ll be able to expand our services and reach while staying true to our mission of delivering world-class infrastructure solutions to businesses throughout Hawaii.”
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