by social@busyseed.com | Oct 16, 2026
Decommissioning a 400,000 SF Manhattan data center
A global high-tech information company relocating off West Street needed its 15 MW data center dismantled and its assets monetized. Quantum ran a 30–40-person crew and recovered everything from 667,200 lbs of batteries to 1,800 data cabinets — returning substantial revenue.
Client
Global High-Tech Info Co.Name withheld by policy
Location
Manhattan, New York
Timeline
3 Months30–40-person crew
Result
Substantial RevenueReturned to the client
The Challenge
A giant Manhattan facility, on a lease clock
A global high-tech information company decided to relocate its 400,000 square foot data center on West Street in Manhattan to Orangeburg, NY. The company’s lease required it to dismantle and remove almost all of the infrastructure that supported the old data center.
On recommendations from several different sources, the company engaged Quantum Technology to execute the decommission and monetize the assets. (The company’s privacy policy restricts advertising its name, but it will provide a reference and recommendation of Quantum upon request.)
By the Numbers
The scale of the site
Facility
400,000 SFData center
Power
15 MWFacility capacity
Cabinets
1,800Data cabinets removed
UPS
27Liebert UPS systems
The Approach
De-energize, verify, dismantle, recover
Quantum was responsible for the de-energization and verification of the electrical systems — safe-off, lock and tag out — before any removal began. A 30–40-person crew then worked through the facility, decommissioning, removing and selling or recycling the full build-out.
That included 1,680 jars of wet-cell lead-acid batteries with their disconnects and racking, hundreds of thousands of pounds of feeder cable, 92 Liebert PDUs, 27 Liebert UPS systems, switchgear lineups and breaker cabinets, DC plants and rectifiers, 1,800 data cabinets, and hundreds of thousands of pounds of steel scrap.
667,200 lbsOf batteries recovered & recycled
The site held 1,680 jars — 667,200 lbs — of wet-cell lead-acid batteries, all removed with their disconnects and racking and routed to recycling.
What We Recovered
Removed, sold or recycled
A full-facility decommission, measured in tons.
✓1,680 jars (667,200 lbs) of wet-cell batteries, disconnects & racking
✓541,981 lbs of feeder cabling & wire
✓92 Liebert PDUs & 27 Liebert UPS systems
✓Switchgear lineups, breaker cabinets & panels
✓DC plants, rectifiers & office furniture
✓1,800 data cabinets & several thousand PDU strips
✓295,240 lbs of steel scrap
✓De-energization, verification, lock & tag out
The Outcome
A clean exit and real money back
The lease obligation was met, the assets were monetized, and the client came away with substantial revenue.
Substantial revenue returned
By monetizing the assets rather than scrapping them, the decommission handed the client substantial revenue.
Handled safely at scale
A 30–40-person crew de-energized, verified and removed a 15 MW facility — including 667,200 lbs of batteries.
Lease obligation met
Almost all of the supporting infrastructure was removed, satisfying the West Street lease so the relocation could close out.
Your project could be next
Relocating or retiring a large data center?
We take on full-scale, multi-megawatt decommissions — de-energizing safely, meeting lease deadlines, and turning the assets into revenue instead of cost.
by social@busyseed.com | Oct 16, 2026
A Market Street data center, back to original
Quantum won the bid to decommission Fiserv’s data center in downtown Philadelphia — 125 server racks and 60,000 SF of raised floor — coming in well below the trades by monetizing the assets, and returning the space to original condition.
Location
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Timeline
6 WeeksDecommission & interior demo
Result
Back to OriginalAt less than the trades’ price
The Challenge
A competitive bid in a live building
Quantum Technology was invited to a walk-through, alongside various Philadelphia trades, to bid on the decommission of Fiserv’s data center on Market Street in Philadelphia. The equipment was quite old and didn’t carry strong resale value, so like the other bidders Quantum submitted a charge for the clean-out and interior demolition — but because of its ability to monetize the assets, that charge came in significantly lower than the trades.
The site had real complications: layers upon layers of cabling beneath the floor, much of it set in place by earlier tenants, with many connections that reached into other suites in the building.
The Approach
Careful work around an occupied building
Because the cabling tied into other suites, Quantum worked closely with the building electricians to untangle the connections safely, and with the building mechanics to make sure no leaking occurred during the removal of the CRAC units.
The demolition and recovery covered 125 server racks, 60,000 square feet of raised floor, cabling, piping, CRAC units, PDUs, fire suppression tanks, cubicles and partition walls — with the racks, PDUs, UPSs and raised floor resold, and the batteries, drywall, cabling and conduit recycled.
60,000 SFOf raised floor removed
Across 60,000 square feet of raised floor, Quantum pulled 125 server racks and the full power and cooling plant — returning the space to its original condition.
What We Removed
Data center and interior, together
Technical infrastructure and interior build-out, recovered and recycled.
✓125 server racks — resold
✓60,000 SF of raised floor — resold
✓CRAC units, PDUs & UPSs
✓UPS batteries — recycled
✓Fire suppression tanks, cabling & piping
✓Cubicles & non-load-bearing partition walls
The Outcome
Lower cost, clean finish, lasting relationship
The space came back to original condition, the price beat the trades, and Fiserv kept calling.
Below the trades’ price
By monetizing the assets, Quantum’s bid came in significantly lower than the other Philadelphia trades.
No disruption to neighbors
Working with the building’s electricians and mechanics, the crew untangled shared cabling and removed CRAC units without leaks.
A client for the long haul
Fiserv was extremely pleased and went on to hire Quantum for many more projects around the country.
Your project could be next
Getting bids on a decommission?
Because we recover and resell the assets, our number often comes in below the trades — and we work cleanly around occupied, shared buildings.
by social@busyseed.com | Oct 16, 2026
Clearing a data center eight floors up
On the 8th floor of a busy downtown Philadelphia office building, Quantum decommissioned and liquidated a former SunGard data center — hundreds of cabinets, all the electrical and cooling, and the raised floor — handing the space back bare and broom-swept.
Client
Lincoln Properties
Location
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Timeline
3 WeeksDecommission & liquidation
Result
No Cost to OwnerAssets purchased, labor free
The Challenge
A high-rise data center to retire
Lincoln Harris Corporate Services Group hired Quantum Technology to decommission and liquidate a former SunGard data center on the 8th floor of a busy downtown Philadelphia office building — a working high-rise, with all the access and logistics that implies.
The brief was comprehensive: remove hundreds of data cabinets and all the electrical and cooling infrastructure, pull the raised floor, and leave the space in bare-walls, bare-floor, broom-swept condition.
The Approach
Bought the assets, covered the labor
The assets included several Eaton Powerware UPS systems, switchgear, transformers and CRAC units, several hundred data server cabinets, the raised floor and all the piping and cabling beneath it. Quantum purchased the assets from Lincoln and provided all of the labor at no charge — a profitable transaction for both parties. After the data center work was complete, Quantum went on to buy equipment stored in the building’s basement, including large breakers left behind by Digital Realty and huge fans.
HundredsOf data cabinets removed
Several hundred data server cabinets — plus UPS, switchgear, transformers, CRAC units and the raised floor — were removed and the space handed back broom-swept.
What We Removed
The full data center, floor and all
Every system came out — down to the piping and cabling beneath the raised floor.
✓Several hundred data server cabinets
✓Eaton Powerware UPS systems
✓Switchgear & transformers
✓CRAC cooling units
✓Raised floor, piping & cabling beneath
✓Space left bare & broom-swept
The Outcome
A clean floor and a deal that worked both ways
The space came back empty and swept, the owner paid nothing for the labor, and Quantum kept finding value in the building.
No cost to the owner
Quantum purchased the assets and provided all the labor at no charge — profitable for both sides.
Handed back broom-swept
Hundreds of cabinets, the UPS and cooling plant and the raised floor all came out, leaving bare walls and floor.
Value found beyond the floor
Quantum also purchased equipment stored in the basement — breakers and fans left behind over the years — for resale or recycling.
Your project could be next
Decommissioning in an occupied building?
We handle high-rise and downtown data center decommissions end to end — and where the assets justify it, we buy them and cover the labor, so the removal costs you nothing.
by social@busyseed.com | Oct 16, 2026
Gutting a 107,000 SF data center — at no cost
CPR bought a former Viacom data center in Secaucus and needed it stripped back to a leasable shell. Quantum offered to do the whole job at no cost — paying for the work through the assets we recovered.
Location
Secaucus, New Jersey
Timeline
6 WeeksGut & building prep
Result
No Cost to OwnerCovered by recovered assets
The Challenge
A 1980s data center, ready for its next life
In 1988, Viacom built a 107,000 square foot data center facility in Secaucus, New Jersey. The building was eventually purchased by CPR, a real estate investment company, who needed the data center gutted and the building brought back to a point where it could be repurposed and re-leased.
Quantum Technology offered to do the job at no cost to CPR — using the recovered assets to pay for the labor, trucking, warehousing, rentals, machinery, admin and insurance, and still turn a profit.
The Approach
Trace it, drain it, tear it out
With no blueprints to work from — Viacom had layered the wiring over many years — Quantum’s electricians spent four days tracing every circuit before the disconnects could begin. Rather than call in a glycol tanker, the crew drained the huge glycol system into 255-gallon totes for refining and resale.
From there the crew tore out the entire data center — floors, ceiling, piping, cabling and equipment — and removed the brick and glass partition walls, draining and certifying the removal of an underground tank along the way.
107,000 SFData center gutted & recovered
A 107,000 square foot facility, stripped back to a leasable shell — with everything inside resold or recycled rather than sent to landfill.
Scope of Work
A full gut, inside and out
Technical infrastructure, structure and site — all handled by Quantum’s crews.
✓Removal of 3 generators, incl. two 13,200v Caterpillars
✓Full electrical trace & disconnect
✓Glycol system drained to totes for resale
✓Entire data center torn out — floors, ceiling, piping, cabling
✓Brick & glass partition wall removal
✓Underground tank drained & certified removed
In the client’s words
“You have a great talent where you can turn almost anything into money. I don’t know how you do it. I know how to buy properties and turn leases and sales into money. But I would love to learn how to do what you do.”
CheskyOwner, CPR
The Outcome
A leasable shell, paid for by its own assets
The building came back as a repurposable space, the equipment found new homes, and the relationship led to three more projects.
Done at no cost to CPR
The recovered assets covered the labor, trucking, warehousing and machinery — so the owner paid nothing out of pocket for the gut.
Everything resold or recycled
Dry coolers, UPSs, switchgear, cabinets, generators and glycol all went back into use rather than to landfill.
A relationship, not a one-off
The owner became a friend and a repeat client — Quantum went on to complete three more projects for him.
Your project could be next
Need a building stripped back to a shell?
We gut data centers down to leasable space — and where the assets justify it, we can do the work at no cost to you, paid for by what we recover.
by social@busyseed.com | Oct 16, 2026
Buying and clearing a legacy data center
At the former AT&T Shannon Labs building in Florham Park, Quantum was invited in to purchase the assets and decommission the data center — UPS, cooling, Halon, 16,000 lbs of batteries and even the full company cafeteria.
Client
Turner Construction for ASCO
Location
Florham Park, New Jersey
Timeline
1 WeekAsset purchase & decommission
Result
Assets RecoveredPurchased & resold, not scrapped
The Challenge
A building changing hands, full of equipment
Turner Construction was carrying out an interior demolition of the old AT&T Shannon Labs building in Florham Park, New Jersey for Jones Lang LaSalle, who had just sold it to ASCO — the world’s leading manufacturer of power transfer switches.
The building still held a working data center and a full company cafeteria. Quantum Technology was invited in to purchase the assets and decommission the data center equipment so the demolition could move forward.
The Approach
Purchased, decommissioned, resold
Rather than simply hauling equipment out, Quantum purchased and resold the UPS equipment, Liebert air conditioners, PDUs, transformers, fire suppressant and the cafeteria equipment — recovering value from assets that would otherwise have been scrapped. Hazardous items were handled by trained technicians: Halon detonators were safely deactivated and the Halon recycled, and the sealed lead-acid batteries were removed by crews in Arc Flash suits using insulated tools and mats.
16,000 lbsOf batteries safely removed
Strung in series, sealed lead-acid batteries carry enough voltage to burn, break bones or kill. Quantum’s trained technicians removed 16,000 lbs of batteries in Arc Flash suits with insulated tools — the way this work has to be done.
What We Handled
Data center and facility assets
A single crew cleared the technical infrastructure and the building services around it.
✓UPS systems disconnect & removal
✓Liebert air conditioners & CRAC units
✓Halon tanks — safe deactivation & recycling
✓16,000 lbs of sealed lead-acid batteries
✓PDUs, transformers & fire suppression
✓Commercial cafeteria & kitchen equipment
The Outcome
Value recovered, demolition unblocked
The data center and facility assets came out safely, found a second home, and cleared the way for Turner’s demolition.
Assets bought and resold
UPS equipment, Liebert units, PDUs, transformers, fire suppression and cafeteria gear were purchased and resold rather than scrapped.
Hazards handled by the book
Halon was deactivated and recycled, and 16,000 lbs of batteries were removed by crews in Arc Flash suits with insulated tools.
Demolition kept on track
With the data center cleared, Turner Construction’s interior demolition could move ahead on schedule.
Your project could be next
Clearing a building before demolition?
We buy and decommission data center and facility assets — UPS, cooling, Halon, batteries, even cafeteria equipment — handling the hazards safely and recovering the value.
