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Insights

Research, analysis, and perspectives on the built world.

Workflows

Data Center Entitlement Checklist: What Developers Need Before Site Control

Data center entitlement risk is no longer limited to zoning use tables. Developers need to screen power, water, air permits, noise, local politics and community benefits before site control, especially as state and local scrutiny increases.

June 6, 2026 ·5 min read

Technology

What Is PropTech? A Practical Definition for Development Teams

PropTech means digital tools for real estate, but the term is too broad to guide institutional development decisions. This piece defines PropTech, separates it from AI-native delivery and explains what development teams should evaluate before buying technology.

June 6, 2026 ·5 min read

Technology

AI Data Center Capacity Planning: From Rack Density to Workload Forecasts

This post explains how AI data center capacity planning has shifted from static space planning to dynamic workload, power and rack-density modeling. It covers training versus inference demand, high-density GPU systems, site constraints and where AI can support capacity decisions without replacing engineering judgment.

June 4, 2026 ·5 min read

Workflows

Data Center Change Order Management with AI: A Better Control Loop for Cost and Schedule

This post breaks down how AI can improve data center change order management by linking scope changes to drawings, contracts, RFIs, procurement logs, schedule impacts and pay applications. It explains what AI can automate, where owner judgment still matters and why change order control is becoming more important as data center construction costs rise.

June 4, 2026 ·5 min read

Asset Classes

On-Site Power for Data Centers in 2026: Gas, Batteries and Bring-Your-Own-Power

This post explains why on-site power is becoming central to data center development in 2026. It covers natural gas bridge power, battery storage, bring-your-own-power mandates, AI workload demand and how developers should evaluate power strategy before site control.

June 4, 2026 ·5 min read

Asset Classes

Edge Data Center Development Requirements for AI Inference

This post defines edge data center development requirements for AI inference workloads. It explains why latency, power, cooling, network access and utility coordination now matter more than simple proximity to end users.

June 3, 2026 ·5 min read

Workflows

Data Center Commissioning Data Rooms: How AI Reduces Turnover Risk

This post explains how data center owners can use AI to organize commissioning evidence before turnover. It covers L1 to L5 testing, IST readiness, issue tracking, missing documentation and the human decisions that still govern acceptance.

June 3, 2026 ·5 min read

Industry

Data Center Policy in 2026: Power, Water and Local Approval Risk

This post explains the 2026 data center policy shift affecting institutional developers. It covers ratepayer protection, water permitting, utility cost allocation, local approvals and why policy diligence now belongs in early site screening.

June 3, 2026 ·5 min read

Workflows

Data Center Pay Application Review with AI: How Owners Control Construction Cash Flow

This post explains how data center owners can use AI to review pay applications against the schedule of values, retainage, change orders, lien waivers and field progress. It separates what AI can check automatically from the judgment calls owners and construction managers still need to make.

June 2, 2026 ·5 min read