Research, analysis, and perspectives on the built world.
Private credit is becoming a larger part of the data center capital stack as AI demand pulls more projects forward. This post explains why lenders are shifting from tenant-first underwriting to power-first underwriting, with grid delivery, large-load tariffs and collateral obligations setting the terms.
September 25, 2026
Retired coal plant data centers are becoming a serious siting strategy because they may offer land, transmission infrastructure and industrial zoning in one package. This post breaks down the site criteria developers need to underwrite, including switchyard reuse, environmental remediation, water, gas, demolition and community acceptance.
September 25, 2026 ·5 min read
Data center utility agreements now define more than service terms. They can set minimum-load obligations, collateral, exit fees, upgrade cost exposure and energization milestones, so developers need an AI-assisted review workflow before signing.
September 25, 2026 ·5 min read
This post explains why data center demand forecasting in 2026 has moved from market sizing into development underwriting. It shows how developers should separate leasing demand from buildable demand, normalize AI workload assumptions and discount pipeline against power, cost and delivery risk.
September 21, 2026 ·5 min read
This workflow guide explains how data center owners can use AI to track construction contingency burn before monthly reports reveal the problem. It covers package-level baselines, exposure classification, reserve forecasting and the split between AI evidence review and human approval authority.
September 21, 2026 ·5 min read
This post explains why data center developers need water resilience modeling beyond WUE. It covers peak-demand risk, reclaimed-water diligence, discharge constraints and how AI can connect water evidence before site control.
September 21, 2026 ·5 min read
A meet-me room is the secure interconnection point that lets carriers and tenants exchange traffic inside a data center. This guide explains how to plan one, what route diversity really means and what to lock before the shell closes.
June 28, 2026 ·4 min read
Data center fire suppression is a room-level design choice that affects code, insurance, downtime and handover. This piece breaks down what NFPA 75 and FM Global actually require and where clean agent, pre-action and hybrid systems fit.
June 28, 2026 ·4 min read
UPS and battery rooms are regulated power spaces, not storage closets. This guide covers VRLA versus lithium-ion, room placement, ventilation, suppression and the code checkpoints that matter before plan review.
June 28, 2026 ·4 min read
A practitioner guide to the five-level data center commissioning sequence (L1 through L5), covering what each level requires and where developer oversight actually matters. From factory acceptance testing through integrated systems testing, this post explains why developers cannot delegate commissioning decisions to the contractor or CxA.
June 27, 2026 ·5 min read