Digital Realty PAR3 Data Center Paris: Carrier-Neutral Colocation Hub in Saint-Denis
Status: Fully Operational Carrier-Neutral Facility | Location: 7-9 avenue des Arts et Métiers, 93200 Saint-Denis, France
Project Overview
Digital Realty PAR3 (formerly Interxion PAR3) is a premier carrier-neutral data center strategically located at 7–9 Avenue des Arts et Métiers in Saint-Denis, at the heart of Northern Paris' highly connected digital infrastructure corridor. As part of Digital Realty's extensive Paris campus, the facility plays a critical role in one of Europe's largest and most network-dense colocation ecosystems, providing secure, scalable, and high-performance infrastructure for enterprises, cloud providers, financial institutions, telecommunications operators, content delivery networks, and digital service providers. Purpose-built to support mission-critical IT environments, PAR3 offers flexible, high-density colocation space capable of accommodating traditional enterprise applications as well as next-generation artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, analytics, and high-performance computing (HPC) workloads. The facility features resilient electrical and mechanical infrastructure, redundant utility feeds, energy-efficient cooling systems, uninterruptible power supply (UPS) systems, backup generators, enterprise-grade physical security, and continuous environmental monitoring to ensure maximum operational availability and business continuity. As a carrier-neutral data center, PAR3 provides customers with direct access to a diverse ecosystem of leading European telecommunications providers, internet service providers, and network operators, enabling highly resilient and low-latency connectivity. The facility is directly interconnected with France-IX, one of Europe's largest internet exchange points, while Digital Realty's ServiceFabric™ platform enables secure, private connectivity to major hyperscale cloud platforms including Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, and Oracle Cloud. High-capacity dark fiber campus rings seamlessly connect PAR3 with other Digital Realty facilities across the Paris metropolitan area, allowing customers to build resilient hybrid IT and multi-cloud architectures with exceptional network performance. By combining robust colocation infrastructure, rich interconnection capabilities, and seamless cloud access, Digital Realty PAR3 serves as a future-ready digital infrastructure hub supporting enterprise digital transformation, cloud adoption, AI-driven innovation, and mission-critical operations across France and the broader European market.
Quick Facts
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Project Name | Digital Realty PAR3 Data Center Paris: Carrier-Neutral Colocation Hub in Saint-Denis |
| Location | 7-9 avenue des Arts et Métiers, 93200 Saint-Denis, France |
| Status | Fully Operational Carrier-Neutral Facility |
| Commissioning | Operational (Legacy Interxion PAR3 facility) |
| Total IT Load | ~8 MW to 12 MW Critical IT Power Capacity Allocation |
| Total Capacity | ~7,000 m² (~75,347 sq ft) gross facility footprint / ~4,000 m² colocation whitespace |
| Tier Level | Tier III Equivalent Design / ISO 27001, ISO 22301, ISO 14001, ISO 50001, SOC 1 Type II, SOC 2 Type II, PCI-DSS Compliant |
| Project Type | Purpose-Built Multi-Tenant Carrier-Neutral Data Center & Cloud Interconnection Hub |
City Profile
| Header | Details |
|---|
| City Name | Paris |
| Population | Approx. 2.1 Million |
| Urban Agglomeration | Approx. 11 Million |
| City GDP | Approx. USD 1 Trillion |
| Per Capita Income | Approx. USD 65,000 |
| City Tier | Alpha++ Global City |
| Key Strengths | Tourism, luxury fashion, finance, technology, culture, education, transportation |
Companies Involved
| Header | Details |
|---|
| Developer / Operator | Digital Realty |
| Strategic Infrastructure Partner | Enedis Utility Network & Ville de Saint-Denis Municipal Authorities |
| Construction Contractor | Specialized European Mission-Critical General EPC Contractors |
| MEP Engineering | Digital Realty Engineering & Global Technical Operations Teams |
| Network Connectivity | Carrier-neutral facility featuring dual path-diverse subterranean fiber entrances, redundant Meet-Me-Rooms (MMRs), direct access to 80+ network service providers, and direct cross-connects to France-IX internet exchange. |
| Power Infrastructure | Dual 20kV high-voltage utility grid feeds from Enedis, 2N static uninterruptible power supply (UPS) modules, automated switchgear, and N+1 multi-megawatt standby emergency diesel generator arrays with 72-hour on-site fuel autonomy. |
Technical Specifications
| Header | Details |
|---|
| Power Capacity | ~10 MW to 14 MW Secured Utility Power Allocation |
| UPS Redundancy | 2N Static UPS Architecture |
| Cooling System | Closed-loop chilled water cooling plant, N+1 chillers, free-cooling air economizers, hot/cold aisle containment, Direct-to-Chip Liquid Cooling (DLC) readiness, and automated BMS environmental controls. |
| Connectivity | ServiceFabric™, Cross Connects, Direct Cloud Connect (AWS Direct Connect, Azure ExpressRoute, Google Cloud Interconnect), and direct fiber links to PAR1, PAR2, PAR4, PAR5, PAR6, and PAR7. |
| PUE Target | < 1.25 Annualized Operational Design PUE |
| Energy Mix | 100% Renewable Energy coverage backed by European Guarantees of Origin (GoOs) and regional solar/wind Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs). |
Milestones
| Header | Details |
|---|
| Announcement | 2008–2009 |
| Construction Start | 2009–2010 |
| Phase 1 Go-Live | Operational |
| Full Buildout | Fully Operational Active Facility |
Investment Details
| Header | Details |
|---|
| Total Investment | Estimated €80,000,000 EUR+ Facility Capital Expenditure |
| Funding | Corporate Capital Expenditure (Digital Realty Trust, Inc.) |