USM opens new-look center

by Wally Northway

Published: August 21,2009

HATTIESBURG — The University of Southern Mississippi iTech Department unveiled a renovated and expanded University Technology and Data Center during a ceremony held Aug. 14 on the Hattiesburg campus.

The $3.8-million project was funded primarily through a U.S. Department of Education and Hurricane Education Recovery Act grant. The purpose was to increase the availability and reliability of the business critical applications and the computer systems upon which they operate.

“The improvements made by the University Data Center Renovation Project will further secure university information, reduce downtime and increase the reliability of our critical systems,” said Homer Coffman, chief information officer.

Among the major improvements to the center are state-of-the-art security measures, which include: security monitoring system with multiple indoor and outdoor cameras; under-floor leak detection system; waterless fire protection system; proximity and biometric access; and, firewall protection of all connections entering and exiting the Data Center.

Companies involved in the renovation project include: mechanical electrical engineer (lead professional) — Corbette Legge and Associates, PLLC, Tupelo; architect — The McCarthy Company – Design Group, P.A., Tupelo; structural engineer — Jenkins Engineering Inc., Tupelo; general contractor — B.W. Sullivan, Hattiesburg; electrical contractor — Webster Electric, Meridian; cabling contractor — Business Communications, Jackson; mechanical contractor — Pierce Plumbing, Hattiesburg.

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