For Integrated Media Technologies, a North Hollywood, Calif.-based solution provider and longtime partner of Falken Tire, it was a great chance to work with its customer to design its data center from the bare concrete floor, said Mike Braico (left), IMT's executive vice president of sales and marketing.

For Joe Garcia (right), IT infrastructure manager for Falken Tire, it was a rare chance to completely revamp its data center.

When it came to finding help with the data center makeover, IMT had the inside track with Falken Tire. Garcia and his boss, Falken Tire CIO Laura Paoletti, both worked with IMT when they were employed by Disney.

It was also initially scary, Garcia said. "We were short of space," he said. "We were sitting on top of each other. In fact, when Laura called me in for an interview, I saw the data center and initially said no."