Facebook Decides to Double Its Already Massive First Data Center

Facebook is well on its way of becoming the largest website on the planet. It’s also one of the most complex and the day-to-day activities of hundreds of millions of people put a huge strain on its infrastructure. But, flush with funding from eager investors, Facebook has started work on its own data center in Prineville, Oregon. Already a huge undertaking, Facebook has now announced that it will more than double the initial floor space to make room for additional servers.

"We are making excellent progress on the first phase of our Prineville Data Center and we are hoping to finish construction of that phase in the first quarter of 2011," Tom Furlong, Director of Site Operations for Facebook, said. "To meet the needs of our growing business, we have decided to go ahead with the second phase of the project, which was an option we put in place when we broke ground earlier this year. The second phase should be finished by early 2012."

The initial plans were for 147,000 square foot of space to house its servers as work got underway earlier this year, in January. At the time Facebook said it was prepared to start working on additional space if it’s operations required it. Just a few months after the first phase of the project started, Facebook believes that it will need the additional capacity and work has started on the second phase, which would add 160,000 square foot-worth of space to the facility.

The first phase is scheduled for completion in the first quarter of 2011, while the second part should be finished a year after that. Facebook says 150 to 200 people are working at the location at any given time. After completion it will create 35 permanent jobs. Those 35 people will be managing the facility which will eventually serve hundreds of millions of people.