MINNEAPOLIS — E*TRADE, the global leader in online personal financial services, has strengthened its ability to provide reliable, 24/7 service with the opening this month of its new Regional Operations Center-East in Atlanta.

Design firm Ellerbe Becket threw the traditional building timeline out the window in delivering the structure in 11 months. “That’s about as close to ‘internet time’ as the building design and construction industry gets,” said Peter Styx, Ellerbe Becket principal. “The rush to e-commerce is driving productivity and innovation to new levels.”

The E*TRADE Regional Operations Center is a 165,000-sq.ft. (15,329-m²) computer command center for financial and stock trading operations. The center actually comprises two identical, joined buildings. This redundancy of mechanical, electrical, operations and utility systems, combined with a 200 mph-rated (322 km/h) exterior skin, creates a computer environment that will remain online through virtually any circumstance. Two 28,500-sq.ft. (2,648-m²) raised access floor computer rooms provide redundancy of server power, as well as ample space for computer equipment expansion.

The A and B buildings are linked by a lobby and employee support area containing a break room, conference rooms, cyber-café and recreation room with secured courtyard. Each computer room is ringed by a series of mezzanine-level command centers. These areas, plus management offices and presentation rooms, have a panoramic view of the computer area.

The aggressive design and construction schedule dictated that the project be released in a series of early bid and purchasing packages. “The e-commerce explosion has created a demand for data centers and ‘mission critical’ facilities that ensure 24/7 reliability,” said Ellerbe Becket Project Director Tim Dueck. “We call it the ‘gold rush of 2000,’” said Dueck. “We’re helping e-commerce companies realize their goals of being first to market.”

The trick is to provide a reliable, fast-track building with that little something extra: style. Ellerbe Becket’s Styx said the new E*TRADE building image is guided by the company’s desire for the facility to be a showplace for investors and business analysts. “The excitement and energy of Wall Street trading is captured in the bright colors and dynamic interplay of building components,” he said. “The facility also expresses E*TRADE’s entrepreneurial, cutting-edge and technological spirit.”

Ellerbe Becket has a strong track record of designing data centers for some of the country’s most well-known companies, such as GM, IBM and State Farm Insurance. The firm provides services ranging from site selection and permitting, to design and construction management.

An innovator since its founding in 1909, Ellerbe Becket provides integrated architecture, planning, interiors, engineering and construction services on a global basis.

E*TRADE is the world’s most-visited online investing site according to Media Metrix (2/00), offering value-added investing and research features, premium customer service and a redundant, proprietary Stateless Architecture^SM infrastructure. In addition to the U.S., E*TRADE presently serves customers through branded web sites in Denmark, Korea, Japan, the U.K., Sweden, France, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. E*TRADE has been recognized as a leader in online financial services by Gomez Advisors, Lafferty Information and Research Group, PC Magazine and Smart Computing. E*TRADE Securities Inc. (Member NASD/SIPC), and its parent company, E*TRADE Group Inc. have offices in northern California and in other major business centers in the U.S. and worldwide. E*TRADE is a registered trademark of E*TRADE Securities Inc.