The data centre construction process is extensive and highly specialised, especially as the world relies on more and more data. Designed to house trillions of gigabytes of data, data centres now have to be ready to scale up in the future, so standard construction processes simply won’t cut it.
So, how are data centres built? As data centre specialists, we have the answers right here.
How Are Data Centres Built?
There are multiple stages to constructing data centres:
Planning and Site Selection
Planning is the most important stage in building a data centre. You will need to know where exactly you want to build, how much land you have to work with, and the power availability of where you are. If you’re building in a more rural area, you may have to consider additional power being diverted to your data centre, which could have an impact on costs.
Assess both current and future storage demands and account for scalability as well – with millions of terabytes of data being generated every day, you need to factor in room for growth.
Consider how to cool your data centre too – will you be using air cooling, or are you building in a cooler climate and can leverage free cooling? Whichever option you choose, factor this into your planning process to get the best idea of your budgets and scope of work.
Design
Once the scope has been outlined, we can then move onto the design phase of data centre construction. The data sector is always innovating, and ensuring your design can keep up is essential for longevity. Here at Sweet Projects, we constantly innovate throughout the design phase to ensure we keep up with the advancements in technology so your data centre can withstand the test of time.
Plus, your data centre will need to comply with best practices and industry standards too. This includes incorporating good cooling solutions and essential backup power options if your main source of power should fail.
Procurement and Pre-Construction
After the final designs have been approved, we then move into the procurement and pre-construction phase. This involves sourcing all building materials and preparing the site, laying foundations, and ensuring structural elements are in place for when construction begins.
Construction
Once all the materials have been sourced, construction can begin in earnest. The physical structure of the building, cooling systems, and essential infrastructure will be erected, followed by installing the power and cooling systems once the building is ready to house them.
Commissioning and Testing
Post-construction, we begin testing the data centre to ensure everything functions as it should, and there are no issues once live. This includes checking the cooling systems are fully operational, load testing is carried out, and compliance audits are carried out to confirm everything is up to industry standards.
Benefits of Turnkey Construction For Data Centres
When planning your data centre, having multiple companies involved can delay the process significantly. More and more companies are therefore opting for turnkey construction for their data centre projects.
Turnkey construction offers a faster timeline than traditional construction projects, as everything is managed by one single point of contact. This allows for better communication, collaboration, and cohesion across the board, so data centres are completed to higher standards.
Turnkey contractors also ensure consistent quality standards, reducing the likelihood of errors that can significantly delay projects. Plus, with one company assuming responsibility, you can focus on your job while we do ours.
Bespoke Data Centre Construction With Sweet Projects
As data centre specialists, Sweet Projects provide construction solutions tailored to you. We’ve been dedicated partners to the data sector for over ten years, working on projects across the country to meet the growing demand for advanced data centres.
We’re built on the results we deliver, constantly innovating to provide bespoke solutions tailored to each project we undertake.
Get in touch with our expert team today to discuss your upcoming project, or explore our previous data centre projects here.
