Research, analysis, and perspectives on the built world.
This post provides a practical data center land due diligence checklist for developers and investors evaluating undeveloped sites. It covers power, fiber, water, title, environmental risk, zoning, entitlements and where AI can compress the diligence timeline without replacing expert judgment.
May 9, 2026 ·5 min read
This post explains what powered shell data centers are, why the model is gaining traction and what developers need to diligence before pursuing one. It covers the boundary between base building and tenant fit-out, power, cooling pathways, leasing structure, capital risk and AI-assisted delivery workflows.
May 9, 2026 ·5 min read
AI infrastructure capex is becoming a real estate development cycle, not just a chip-buying cycle. This post explains how hyperscaler spending changes site selection, power strategy and underwriting for institutional developers.
May 8, 2026 ·5 min read
Energization schedule tracking is now a core data center development workflow. This post breaks down the milestones, failure modes and AI-assisted controls that reduce power delivery risk.
May 8, 2026 ·5 min read
GPU data centers require different development assumptions than conventional colocation facilities. This post covers site criteria, power density, cooling requirements and where AI helps development teams underwrite the asset class.
May 8, 2026 ·5 min read
This post explains how AI energy management is moving into data center predevelopment, from power risk modeling and PUE forecasting to cooling strategy and procurement sequencing. It shows what developers can control before operations and where human engineering judgment still matters.
May 7, 2026 ·5 min read
This post defines AI factory data centers as a distinct development format shaped by high-density compute, power deliverability, cooling complexity and network requirements. It explains the site criteria and underwriting implications for institutional developers.
May 7, 2026 ·5 min read
This post breaks down utility coordination as a critical data center delivery workflow. It covers power delivery mapping, milestone extraction, procurement dependencies, risk reporting and where AI helps teams keep utility work on schedule.
May 7, 2026 ·5 min read
This workflow guide explains how developers should diligence water risk for data center projects. It covers cooling choices, water rights, utility capacity, WUE, permitting, community opposition and how AI can monitor the evidence base in real time.
May 6, 2026 ·5 min read