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Expanding AI Means Infrastructure Changes—And More
It’s not exactly a secret that artificial intelligence is one of the factors behind the booming demand for data centers across North America.
According to a CBRE article, “AI Necessitates New Blueprint for Digital Infrastructure,” some currently under-construction hyperscale campuses plan to provide over 1 gigawatt of capacity from a single location.
Additionally, “GPU-as-a-Service and Neocloud companies are the next generation of cloud computing providers that facilitate AI and machine learning applications. They leverage specialized processing units to provide fast, flexible and scalable computing resources.”
These trends—and others—are changing requirements that impact data center infrastructure, space and more. Here’s what the CBRE analysts had to say about the topic.
Power Capacity is Essential
The article explained that occupiers expect data centers to facilitate high-density computing, rapid deployment and ongoing uptime. The key—and challenge—is readily available power capacity. As such, many “occupiers are looking for continuous space of 5 to 20+ MW that is operational within nine months to provide connectivity under a single roof.”
So Is Space Design
CBRE analysts explained that cloud operators and enterprises “are increasingly drawn to facilities that support modular growth.” Occupiers need to quickly scale power density and expand their floor space while transitioning between wholesale and retail colocation models. This “allows occupiers to align infrastructure with fluctuating workloads,” the report said.
Leases Agreements Need to Change, Too
The report highlighted that standard long-term leases may not always be in the best interest of data center occupiers. Instead, flexible lease structures are the future. Said the CBRE analysts: “shorter terms, renewal options and turnkey deployments are key differentiators for today’s landlords.”
Then, There is Connectivity
High-fiber density and carrier-neutral ecosystems are important, as customers want “direct cloud on-ramps, diverse network routes and low-latency interconnection with major exchanges,” the report noted. Compliance with standards issued by ISO, SOC 2, PCI-DSS, and HIPAA is expected, as well as adherence to regional data privacy requirements.
CBRE analysts concluded the report by pointing out that next-gen AI occupiers will expect an ability to scale, interconnect and sustain at speed. “Operators that meet this expectation will define the digital landscape of 2025 and beyond,” they added.
- ◦Lease
- ◦Development
