Today’s data centers are very different from those of 20 years ago in terms of what is on the floor, how the racks are organized, overall rack densities, and the amount of compute power that is available. Peering into the crystal ball, how will data centers look in the future and how are data center design and construction techniques evolving? Such questions will be answered during the Data Center Build track at Data Center World 2025.

We are assembling some of the brightest minds in chip making, construction, design, infrastructure, cooling, and power distribution to dig into the many ways in which data centers are changing. The traditional approach of designing each new data center from scratch is fading as modularization and standardization take hold. If this is the future of the industry, it becomes even more critical that the highest degree of quality is maintained.

“Third party studies show that 30% of work that's done in construction has to be done twice,” said Matthew Kleiman, CEO of Cumulus QES, a provider of systems to digitize mission-critical construction and maintenance activities. “It’s been that way for decades, yet 90% of data generated on a construction site isn't used because the data is kept in silos that don't talk to each other.”

His talk as part of this track, What Data Center Construction Can Learn From Boeing's Quality Woes, uses a real world examples of serious failures in quality control at Boeing to showcase ways that data center construction quality can be greatly improved. Kleiman will lay out how many of Boeing's issues were traced to failure to have proper procedures, failure to properly instruct workers on how to follow procedures, and failure to ensure procedures were followed before aircraft left the factory. Unfortunately, many data centers suffer similar issues, which are compounded by tight schedules and inexperienced labor. He will share solutions and procedures to avoid a similar fate.

That’s just one of many sessions that will make up the Data Center Build track at Data Center World 2025.

Additional conference highlights include:

• Turning Adversaries into Allies: Collaborating for Sustainable Data Centers by Mara Ervin from Mara Jade Consulting, Mike Turner Loudoun County Virginia, Board of Supervisors, where you’ll learn how to navigate power grid limitations, mitigate noise pollution, and reduce water usage in data center facilities to creates a future benefitting the local economy, the industry, and the environment.
• A panel on Physical Security Essentials: Safeguarding the Data Center Environment will explain why typical corporate security approaches do not apply in data centers. Panelists will examine a 3 layered approach to data center security design, focusing on outdoor perimeter, building access control, and server areas.
• A Recruiters Playbook: Recruiting Construction and Real Estate Pros from Data Center Builds with Roxxann Sczepanik of executive search firm Joseph Chris Partners will guide you to building your high performing dream team.
• A panel discussion of Community Engagement in the Cloud led by Jesse Duker and Karen Cooper of DLR Group will share case studies on how to best build trust, gain community approval, and create long-term community partnerships.
• Native Habitat Landscape Design for Data Centers with Sandra Rolph of Principal Landscape Architect and Amy Paulson, Senior Environmental Manager at Meta will share insights on data center habitat restoration planning, design, construction, and ongoing maintenance . Learn how sustainable native habitat landscape management can achieve both ecological and economic goals.
• Start Campus in Portugal is set to be Europe's largest and most sustainable data ecosystem, it leverages a cutting-edge sea water cooling system, which uses the ocean as a natural heat sink without consuming water. The project is set to use 100% renewable energy and targets an industry-leading PUE of 1.1. This innovative system will be detailed in Advancing Sustainability with Hybrid Air/Liquid Cooling Schemes using Sea Water by Gemma Reeves from Alfa Laval and Imran Latif from Brookhaven National Laboratory.

Clearly, data centers are destined to change markedly in the coming years. Those involved with design, construction, commissioning, component/equipment supply, and data center operators should mark their calendars and attend as many of the sessions in the Data Center Build track as possible. After all, next-gen chips and AI are driving change and causing disruption in infrastructure. New liquid cooling solutions are forever shifting the plumbing and electrical side of data center operations and maintenance. There is so much change to keep up with and so many advances to hear about. The Data Center Build track is the best way to stay current.

“Data Center World is a popular event where industry professionals network, learn about the latest technological trends from top OEMs, and hear about owner/operator experiences in planning and implementing equipment in a demanding environment,” said Martis.

Attend these sessions and many others on the latest advances in data center design, construction, and operations at Data Center World 2025.