Data centres are the most significant building type in the world right now. And we need to talk about that

by • Features, Technology, Workplace design

Data centres have always been a slight anomaly in the Built Environment sector, part property and part critical infrastructure (talking in wattage rather than square footage for example), lacking aesthetic appeal and they are not significant employers, they are often considered a necessary evil to support our hyper-communicative lifestylesThe Data Centre Congress which took place from June 1st to 4th in Cannes is to data centres what mipim is to the more traditional markets in property, a place where the good and the great – from investors and operators, to the engineers and power providers, gather to network and contemplate the challenges and the future of the sector. In Q1 last year there was a slight chill through the sector after Microsoft halted data centre plans across the US and Europe to the tune of 2GW, citing caution around the overexpansion of AI and uncertainty around tariffs. What seemed like bombshell news at the time, felt like a mere blip and a distant memory at the 2026 edition and this juggernaut of activity is showing zero signs of slowing, a market that is currently worth over $300 billion is set to rise to $699.13 billion by 2034.

Data centres have always been a slight anomaly in the Built Environment sector, part property and part critical infrastructure (talking in wattage rather than square footage for example), lacking aesthetic appeal and they are not significant employers, they are often considered a necessary evil to support our hyper-communicative lifestyles. Even though this year UKREiiF and mipim notably paid more attention to data centres this year with dedicated panels and talks, a visit to the congress confirms that this sector has truly blazed its own trail as they arguably become the most significant building typology of the 21st Century.

The culture and pace of the market embodies new sector energy, with pleasing diversity from the start,  with care and attention to wellbeing being paramount, there is a sense that some of the accepted norms in the traditional construction world are being rewritten.

Furthermore, DC’s face their own set of challenges and they are significant. Key issues include the demand created by the momentum of AI, lack of power in the grid, attracting talent to the sector, legislation in planning, innovation in chip technology, data sovereignty and the responsibility to sustainable solutions all weigh heavy. Even though the scale of funds flowing in to the sector are immense, there are still many conversations to be had and negotiations to be agreed upon between government and commerce, to create a conducive environment that can deliver all that this sector demands.

We spoke to key players in the industry comprising recruiters, architects, project managers, power providers and engineers to highlight the key themes and solutions:

 

Rennie Dalrymple, Partner and Head of Data Centres at Ridge 

“The hype in the sector is strong, with a scale of fundraising to match and headlines that indicate there is a massive race on to deliver AI ready data centres as quickly as possible. Mainstream industry commentators seem to have forgotten the foundation and importance of public cloud hosting, this will remain the bedrock of the sector (this is most of the DC’s today), if people have phones there will be cloud services!

Centres where multiple customers can work alongside each other, known as Neo-cloud, will be significant in the UK but these have a requirement for much higher compute workloads. As a guide traditional cloud data centres have an average load (per rack) of 5kW – 15kW but AI racks can increase significantly too – standard AI compute 40kW – 60kW, with high density in the 120kW range.

An increase in demand is certain but the predictability of pace of growth is less so, which in turn puts pressure on developers to commit to unrealistic timelines to negate risk. This is passed down through the supply chain, then further compounded by the lack of strength in depth across a range of roles and engineering skills.

Planning is still far too complicated and slow, legislation has changed and some Data Centres can be considered as Nationally Significant Infrastructure Projects but the alternative processes to secure consent e.g. Development Consent Orders (DCO) are vastly different to the Town & Country Planning Association route. Both are equally complex and stakeholder intensive.

Despite these challenges, the data centre market is an incredibly exciting place to be, as the saying goes ’necessity is the mother of invention’, and the urgency brought by AI is a force for investment and innovation that will enable a sustainable future for a world that is increasingly data driven.”

 

David Gallagher, Head of Mission Critical at chapmanbdsp

“The theme that runs through the data centre market is the in-balance of “supply and demand”, this is true whether talking about people, power or chips! This constantly expanding sector outstrips the availability of engineering talent. MEP engineers with mission?critical experience are in particularly short supply, the skillset is niche, the learning curve is steep, and the demand is global.

The culture of the DC market is slowly shifting from being historically conservative and risk?averse, to now being required to push innovation and predicting market shifts due to AI, sustainability, and power network constraints.

In my view, power availability and fibre availability are biggest constraints on data centre development, with few regions having both the power and connectivity to deliver capacity fast enough, so it is beneficial for MEP engineers to be involved in the early?stages of site selection.

With the carbon footprint of AI so significant, engineers are constantly being challenged to design systems that minimise environmental impact without compromising performance. When you consider the heat and energy data centres require, it is evident that changes, planning for future adaptability (whereby facilities can transition to higher?density cooling for example), utilising alternative energy sources and more efficient electrical infrastructure is urgently needed.”

 

Andy Davis, Director of DataX Connect and DataeXec 

“Growth is being driven by cloud adoption, digital transformation, AI workloads, and increasing requirements for data sovereignty and low-latency infrastructure. As a result, we are seeing sustained investment across established markets as well as significant expansion into emerging locations.

One of the defining challenges facing the industry is talent. Demand for experienced professionals across design, construction, commissioning, operations, and project management continues to exceed supply in virtually every major market. This challenge is particularly acute as the industry expands into new geographic regions where local talent pools are still developing.

The sector can no longer rely solely on recruiting experienced data centre professionals. Organisations are increasingly looking to adjacent industries such as power generation, industrial manufacturing, telecommunications, pharmaceuticals, and large-scale infrastructure projects to source transferable skills. Success will depend on investing in training, development, and long-term career pathways to build the next generation of talent.

Retention is equally important. As competition for skilled professionals intensifies, organisations that create strong cultures, provide development opportunities, and offer meaningful career progression will be best positioned to succeed.

The sector itself must continue to demonstrate the value they bring to local communities through employment opportunities, investment, sustainability initiatives, and economic growth.

The pace of AI places significant responsibility on the companies designing, building, and operating the infrastructure that underpins it. The industry’s role extends beyond simply delivering capacity as quickly as possible. It must ensure that growth is achieved safely and sustainably.

We need closer collaboration between developers, operators, utilities, governments, and local communities to ensure that infrastructure growth delivers long-term benefits without compromising reliability or sustainability.”

 

Eddie Tribe, Managing Director, SES Technology 

“All new sectors bring fresh challenges and data centres are no different. For many years the sector was quietly tucked away powering our computing needs but as societies around the world develop an irrepressible demand for more online activity for business and an insatiable appetite for recreation, data centres have been exposed as the anonymous buildings powering our everyday needs.

This is a good sign as so many of the challenges faced by the data centre sector can be at least partly resolved through integration into other areas of infrastructure and the built environment. Whether that be people, power, planning restraints and sustainability there are many learnings from more mature sectors and the data centre community is definitely open to this and these are conversation worth having.”

 

Jonathon Stockdale, Director, studioNWA

“As data centres become more visible within our towns, cities and urban edge locations, I believe architects have an important role to play in shaping how this critical infrastructure sits within its wider context.

Data centres are challenging buildings to integrate. They are highly secure, technically complex and operationally driven. Their form is shaped by power, cooling, resilience, access control, logistics, fire strategy, plant replacement and strict performance requirements. These are not buildings that can simply be opened up in the same way as a typical commercial, civic or mixed use development.

However, that does not mean they should be treated as anonymous industrial boxes.  As demand for digital infrastructure grows, and as data centres move closer to established urban areas, the way they meet the public realm becomes increasingly important. Their scale means they have a significant visual and physical presence, and the façade is often the main way the building is read by the local community. A considered architectural approach can help break down mass, create rhythm, improve legibility and allow these buildings to feel more settled within their environment.

I see this as a balance between technical honesty, planning sensitivity and civic responsibility. A successful data centre façade must respond to security, ventilation and durability, but it also needs to consider proportion and depth for the experience of people passing by every day.

There are opportunities for data centres to contribute positively to their wider setting. They can support the renewal of underused industrial land, replacing tired sites with cleaner, better organised, managed development. They can improve pedestrian routes, introduce landscaping, strengthen biodiversity, and create better edges to sites that may previously have turned their back on the community.  Ultimately, the challenge is not to disguise what a data centre is, but to design it with care, intelligence and context.”