Hidden from view, data centers are quietly redefining construction priorities, performance standards, and delivery methods.
You won’t see them on city tours — but data centers are now among the fastest-growing building types worldwide. As AI expands and cloud computing becomes essential across industries, the demand for processing power is surging. The result? A wave of massive, highly technical construction projects — mostly unnoticed by the public.
Just this week, OpenAI announced plans for “Stargate Norway,” a proposed $1B AI-focused facility powered by 100% renewable energy, in partnership with Nscale and Aker. If completed, it would be located in northern Norway, housing up to 100,000 GPUs and delivering over 230 MW of computing power, with potential for further expansion.
Projects like these are no longer exceptions — they’re becoming a building category in their own right.
Today’s hyperscale data centers:
Often exceed 4 million sq ft — rivaling major airport terminals
Consume 200–500 MW of power — enough to run a mid-sized city
Operate with zero downtime tolerance, requiring full-system redundancy
Are part of a market expected to more than triple in capacity by 2030, driven by AI, edge computing, and global digital expansion
Despite their massive footprint and cost, these facilities have no tenants, no plazas, no public-facing amenities. They are built entirely for equipment operation and environmental control — with access tightly restricted and operations secured behind multiple physical and digital barriers.
Inside, every layer is engineered for precision and performance:
Server halls — arranged for consistent airflow and thermal efficiency
Mechanical corridors — packed with chilled water lines, power feeds, and cable trays, often organized vertically
Power systems — UPS rooms, generators, and switchgear for full redundancy (N+1, 2N, or more)
Cooling systems — from CRAC units to direct-to-chip liquid cooling, adapted to climate and density
Security — layered access, biometrics, and constant surveillance
Support zones — staging areas, loading docks, and compact operational offices
Construction is executed with the same precision as manufacturing high-performance equipment: every slab flatness, airflow calculation, and cable route is measured against uptime, energy use, and scalability targets.
While most architects and engineers may never design a data center, the sector’s innovations are influencing best practices industry-wide. These include:
Prefabrication and modular delivery for speed and quality control
High-performance envelope design for thermal stability
Advanced MEP integration to eliminate clashes and improve maintenance access
Data centers might operate out of sight, but the methods refined here are shaping how complex projects will be conceived, coordinated, and delivered in the years ahead.