Research, analysis, and perspectives on the built world.
The Uptime Institute's four-tier classification system defines data center reliability requirements with direct implications for site requirements, MEP capex, and tenant targeting. This guide breaks down what each tier demands in practice and how developers should use tier specification as a development decision variable.
May 2, 2026 ·5 min read
Power demand modeling is one of the most consequential early-stage tasks in data center development, and AI compute workloads have made it harder. This piece walks through the five-step load forecasting workflow, covering where AI compresses the process and where licensed engineers and utility relationships remain essential.
May 2, 2026 ·5 min read
Hyperscalers including Microsoft, Google, and Amazon are securing nuclear energy agreements at unprecedented scale, restarting existing plants and contracting for small modular reactors. This piece covers what that capital deployment means for data center site selection, how nuclear-adjacent sites are being priced, and the timeline risks developers need to model before underwriting.
May 1, 2026 ·5 min read
Prefabricated and modular data center construction compresses delivery timelines by 30-50% versus traditional stick-built development, but imposes real site constraints that standard feasibility often underweights. Covers the modular construction spectrum, speed and cost tradeoffs, site access requirements, and the scenarios where modular makes the strongest development case.
May 1, 2026 ·4 min read
Data center development returns are fundamentally lease-driven, and the economic impact of individual terms -- power cost structure, SLA provisions, expansion rights -- can run into tens of millions of dollars on a single campus deal. This piece covers the three main lease structures, the highest-stakes terms developers should prioritize, and where AI accelerates term extraction, benchmarking, and IRR sensitivity analysis.
May 1, 2026 ·4 min read
Pre-construction digital twins are giving data center developers a new tool for design iteration and procurement planning. This post covers what AI-enhanced twin platforms can model before groundbreaking — power distribution, cooling efficiency, procurement sequencing — and where the limits remain.
April 30, 2026 ·4 min read
Transformer and switchgear lead times now define the data center development critical path. This post breaks down the three procurement layers, how AI monitors interconnection milestones and models change order impact, and what still requires direct utility relationships and engineering sign-off.
April 30, 2026 ·5 min read
Development consulting spans feasibility, entitlement, project management, capital markets, and technical due diligence. This post maps the category clearly and explains how AI-native delivery is compressing timelines without eliminating the judgment layer that experienced practitioners provide.
April 30, 2026 ·4 min read
Edge data centers are a distinct product type from hyperscale, driven by AI inference demand, 5G densification, and enterprise private cloud growth. This post covers site criteria, tenant profiles, underwriting distinctions, and where AI compresses the development workflow for metro and regional edge facilities.
April 29, 2026 ·5 min read