With more people working remotely over the last couple of years, there has been a greater emphasis on data intake and protection. The construction of new data centers around the country has exploded. Data centers, which serve as central hubs for handling everything from cloud and storage demands to data integrity needs, are valuable facilities for both businesses and individuals alike.
At Project Solutions Group, we're proud to offer construction management and facility management services for numerous industries and business types, including data center construction solutions. We're happy to work with you on every stage of a data center construction project, from initial consultation and site preparation through all your construction and the eventual facility management needs.
What are some of the key challenges often facing those taking part in a data center construction job, and how do we help you work through them with time-tested solutions? Here are some of the key challenges and how we approach them.
Whether you're building a new data center or retrofitting an existing building for these purposes, location is a vital concern. Selecting a site that is already zoned for data centers or has a history of hosting them will save you time and money during the construction process as well as minimize your chances of potential future issues with zoning. If not using a site that is already zoned for data centers, you will want to consider any local or state regulations that might impact your data center in any way and factor them in when finalizing a site.
You will also want to consider climate-related issues that could impact your heating or cooling, which are vital to the success of your data center. Make sure you've got the right conditions for exterior cooling and heating solutions before beginning construction, as well as any humidity requirements like dew point or misting issues that might impact the facility's effectiveness. If uncovered too late, these kinds of problems can be costly, not to mention the cost of having to move to an entirely new facility.
Last but certainly not least, you need to ensure the location is safe from a security perspective. Because of the valuable equipment and data housed in a data center, it's crucial to consider security risks carefully to avoid future issues with breaches, vandalism, or attacks. You want a location that is covered by security cameras or monitored by other means, and protected from unauthorized personnel.
Another important factor to consider when designing and constructing a data center is the power supply and delivery method. A reliable source for your power needs can be one of the most significant challenges facing those constructing a new data center, as many sites outside urban areas lack readily-accessible sources of power and must rely on individual generators for their energy demands – which can lead to costly ongoing issues if not done correctly.
In addition, you may be considering sustainability when designing the power supply for your data center. Whether you're using solar panels or another sustainable source of energy to provide electricity, keep in mind that the initial cost involved in setting up any kind of sustainability-based power system will have ongoing maintenance costs. Make sure you are aware of these potential expenses when considering an alternative power plan.
The data room itself is one of the most important steps in any data center construction project. You want to ensure that your data room is prepared, safe, and can support your needs.
Depending on the kind of equipment you're installing, you might need a raised floor in order to maximize air flow, or you might need a built-in cooling system. If you've got enough space, keeping it open with removable ceiling or wall panels will make it easy to expand your facility, when necessary, as well as helping you manage proper airflow.
In addition, noise concerns, wiring setup, and management will need to be taken into consideration.
While we went over location and site security above, it's also important to consider both physical and digital security as you prepare to build a data center. In the age of hacking and cybercrime, even those handling data within an internal network need to be conscious of digital threats from outside sources. Make sure your design includes ample password management and encryption in order to secure your valuable equipment and information well.
For physical security consider retina scans, fingerprint technology, or other ways for employees to gain access to different areas of the facility.
Construction timelines have been affected by the pandemic. Manufacturing and shipping delays have become the norm. You will want to take these delays into consideration as you plan out your construction timeline.
When you're planning to build a data center, it's important to keep all of these factors in mind as you begin your project. Hiring a knowledgeable construction partner will help you make these decisions and stay within set timeframes.
For more information on the process and challenges facing those constructing new data centers, or to learn about any of our other commercial real estate or facility management services, call Project Solutions Group today.