Convergence of Information Technology (IT) and Facilities
Anthony Acerra, Skanska USA Building, Inc.
Jakob Carnemark, Skanska Mission Critical
Increasingly, data centers are seen as precious tactical resources to be deployed as efficiently as possible, yet companies and institutions still struggle to buy and operate efficient network infrastructure. Often there is a chasm existing between the way facilities, IT, and real estate teams view a data center asset—making collaboration toward efficiency very difficult.
New technologies are making it possible to link asset, application, and real-time energy at a granular level. Correlated into a real-time digital asset, this unprecedented level of performance data can provide an holistic view of data centers. Linked with a uniform perspective, formerly disparate groups within an organization can leverage strategic data and partner to reduce operating costs, energy costs, and carbon footprint.
Furthermore, although data centers may be seen as buckets, 100 percent of anticipated capacity doesn't need to be built on day one. The drive to modularize and implement steps in data center infrastructure on an as-needed basis requires high-quality information about the current facilities usage, as well as future requirements of application deployment. Sophisticated data center operators can now predict their future needs and plan the deployment of infrastructure appropriately.
Biographies:
Anthony Acerra is the vice president and account manager for Skanska in New York City. As a dedicated leader with over 20 years of industry experience, Mr. Acerra has developed a history of constructing projects in the higher education and K-12 markets. He is responsible for projects at Columbia University, KPMG LLC, New York City School Construction Authority (NYCSCA), and the Dormitory Authority State of New York (DASNY), where he is currently overseeing the $400 million, LEED® Silver construction of the Advanced Science Research Center for the City University of New York.
A leader committed to staying at the forefront of the construction industry, Mr. Acerra's career at Skanska began as a project executive, managing St. John University's Riley Field House, NYCSCA's High School of Architecture and DASNY Fashion Institute of Technology's Residence Hall.
Mr. Acerra is a member of the Public Buildings Committee for the New York Building Congress and the Associated General Contractors of America's New York Chapter. Internally within Skanska, Mr. Acerra is a member of the local Green Council and is the regional chairman of Skanska's Injury-Free Environment. He earned a Bachelors of Science degree in architecture from the New York Institute of Technology and in 2007, completed the Executive Business Program at Columbia University's Graduate School of Business.
Jakob Carnemark is the head of Skanska's Mission Critical Center of Excellence (COE), which focuses on alternative energy and energy-efficient data center construction. He developed this organization to showcase Skanska's expertise in constructing mission critical facilities and to share best practices among various regions.
Mr. Carnemark has 25 years of experience in the industry, seven of which have been with Skanska. His years of experience cover all aspects of construction and enable him to provide meaningful and accurate insight to a project. Mr. Carnemark's extensive knowledge and proficiency with mission critical facilities has taught him to understand the unique requirements and logistical concerns of working in and around data centers, including specific security and safety issues. Some key clients include Verizon, KPMG, and IBM.
Mr. Carnemark received a Bachelor of Science degree in civil engineering from the University of Virginia. He has also completed courses in management and technology at the IBM Advanced Business Institute.