As we do this, we need to start to attract more diverse people into the industry.

While data centres have traditionally been located on large, out-of-town sites, newer developments often need to be closer to urban areas.Latency requirements, local regulation, and land constraints mean that ‘cookie-cutter’ single-storey facilities are no longer the only game in town.

Lincoln points out that multi-storey or retrofitted data centres may soon become more common, especially when operators seek low-latency connections in city centres..However, building in dense urban environments introduces new complexities: community relations, architectural design considerations, and zoning regulations all come into play.The standardised ‘kit of parts’ concept helps here too, as a platform-based design can be more readily adapted to tighter sites or existing structures..

Ensuring adaptability and reliability.For all the emphasis on innovation, Lincoln reiterates that data centres are mission-critical: even minor downtime can be cripplingly expensive for operators.

This means that adopting new methods - be they industrial construction techniques or cooling advancements - demands careful piloting and collaboration.

He stresses that Edged’s approach is built on tested engineering principles, explaining:.Once you’ve identified the problem you’re trying to solve and the value you’d like to achieve, it’s time to start evaluating processes.

The first step is to start modelling your project and working out how you’ll use particular processes to achieve your desired value outcomes, as well as to find the optimum balance between them.. 1.For more about developments in approaches to Value in construction and the built environment, see the Construction Innovation Hub’s work in this area.

https://constructioninnovationhub.org.uk/value/.Using process engineering to deliver broader outcomes.