Building a data center: 5 critical factors

As already noted: a successful data center doesn't happen by chance—it requires comprehensive expertise and consideration of multiple factors. We have compiled five critical aspects that ensure successful data center construction.

1. Site Location and Power Availability

The data center's operations must comply with the site's zoning plan. Key considerations include verifying zoning status, project suitability for the site, and availability of municipal infrastructure and electrical connections, where our qualified experts can provide guidance. The need for future project expansions must be considered when acquiring the site.

2. Geotechnical Design

Geotechnical design establishes the foundation beginning with site selection and zoning. Geotechnical design helps identify risks and opportunities related to foundation work and earthwork, promoting cost-effective and sustainable solutions while considering the overall project design. Geotechnical design utilizes open public data as well as results from soil and environmental investigations. The investigation phase includes programming studies, monitoring, oversight, verification of study results, and interpretation of existing soil conditions. Based on these interpretations, the project's foundation structures are designed. Optimized foundation methods and mass balance management deliver both time and cost savings. Geotechnical design is executed responsibly by utilizing existing and recycled materials.

Geotechnical design includes groundwater and stormwater management. Groundwater and stormwater assessments are conducted no later than the investigation phase. Management plans are developed for both construction-phase and permanent operations.

3. Permitting and Impact Assessments

Data center projects involve numerous permitting requirements, influenced by factors including the site's zoning plan, environmental conditions, and the scale of planned operations. Our experts identify necessary permits, prepare applications and impact assessments, and participate in regulatory negotiations, providing clients with support throughout the entire process. Large facilities, especially on undeveloped sites, may require Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) procedures, in which our environmental specialists are experienced professionals. Most large data centers require at minimum building and environmental permits for their operations. Environmental permit application preparation and submission typically includes noise modeling, air emission modeling, baseline soil condition assessment, contingency and monitoring plans, and possibly a separate chemical permit.

4. HVAC System Design and Waste Heat Recovery

Data center HVAC design is specialized work requiring precise technical expertise. A defining characteristic of data centers is significant power consumption, which results in very high heat loads and waste energy in equipment spaces. Suitable conditions are maintained through highly developed technical cooling and heat recovery solutions. Operational reliability must be ensured through redundant systems that operate seamlessly together, even during potential fault and maintenance situations. Additionally, as seasons and external conditions change, systems must optimize their operation reliably and energy-efficiently.

Key HVAC system requirements therefore include reliability and operational assurance, effective environmental control, system monitoring and adjustability, and energy efficiency and sustainability. Data centers produce waste heat, and its effective utilization—for example, in district heating or integration into a utility's district heating network—provides economic benefits and promotes environmental sustainability.

Data center HVAC system design is specialized work. Key requirements include significant cooling demands, energy efficiency, effective airflow and environmental control, and system monitoring and adjustability. Reliability and redundancy are also paramount.

In short: data centers produce waste heat, and this waste heat should be captured and utilized effectively. Optimizing this provides economic benefits, promotes environmental sustainability, and depending on the energy provider, can generate revenue for the project.

5. Scalability and Sustainability Balance

As technology and business needs evolve, systems must be scalable. Data center construction must strike a balance between performance, efficiency, cost-effectiveness, reliability, and sustainability to ensure projects progress in a controlled and responsible manner. Through us, you can achieve comprehensive design, construction management, and project management that meets ESG requirements, as well as BREEAM In-Use certification, which is a prerequisite for green financing.

Considering these five factors helps ensure data center project success and environmental responsibility.

Learn more about data center construction.