Building data centers at the speed of technology

By Jesse Sanchez. 

Early coordination, adaptable design and manufacturing support can help mission critical construction teams keep pace with rapidly changing project demands. 

Data center construction is moving at a pace that sets it apart from many traditional building sectors, creating unique demands for companies like USG. Projects can begin while details are still being finalized, requirements can change from week to week and jobsites can span hundreds or even thousands of acres. For project teams, that combination of speed, scale and uncertainty makes flexibility essential. 

USG says those demands are becoming more complex as facilities are designed to support greater computing power. More stringent cooling requirements can mean larger piping and additional structural support for heavier loads, even as building structures become lighter to help accelerate construction. Describing just how quickly those requirements can evolve, Travis Tomanek, head of sales for Mission Critical Solutions at USG, said, “Data centers are moving at the speed of light compared to traditional construction. Every week there’s a change.” 

Those changes can have consequences throughout a project. Adjustments to square footage or component width, for example, can affect ceiling layouts, component sizing and installation planning. USG emphasizes early involvement as one way to address those challenges before materials arrive on the jobsite and changing specifications begin creating additional complications in the field. 

The company can prefabricate and prepackage materials so they arrive ready for installation, allowing crews to concentrate on installation and productivity. USG also provides engineering and design services from the beginning of a project, including support for unique load requirements and building information modeling (BIM) assets. 

As mission critical projects continue to evolve, adaptability remains central to responding to changing requirements. USG’s approach combines engineering, manufacturing and project coordination to help teams navigate changes while moving designs from concept to construction. 

Learn more about how early coordination, adaptable design and manufacturing support can help mission critical construction teams keep pace with rapidly changing data center projects!