Power, People and Progress: Navigating the Complexities of Data Center Construction

What’s Driving the Need for More New Data Centers?

“Data center construction is booming. In 2024 alone, these builds drove 94% of nonresidential growth,” Stoffer said. This remarkable statistic underscores the outsized impact data centers are having on the construction industry.

Arnholter explained the underlying forces prompting data center expansion across the country: “The surge is fueled by the massive demand for AI and cloud computing. But building a data center isn’t just another construction project — it’s a high-tech puzzle.”

The complexity of these projects goes far beyond traditional construction, requiring multidisciplinary teams with cutting-edge skills to complete the work. Given their understanding of the latest digital technology trends, roles like architects, engineers, project managers and MEP experts will be increasingly important, and in demand, to make these large-scale projects a success.

What Are Common Challenges During Data Center Construction Projects?

1. Energy Consumption Straining the Grid

One of the most significant challenges is energy consumption. As Stoffer noted, “These facilities draw so much energy, they’re practically cities of their own.” The scale of power required is staggering, pushing utilities to their limits.

Power generation needs are threatening to outpace what the utilities can deliver, putting a huge strain on the existing power grid and pressure on infrastructure. “By 2030, data centers could be using up to 720 terawatt-hours of electricity, which is more than double today’s levels,” Stoffer said.

2. The Need for Specialized Talent During Construction

On the construction side, Arnholter highlighted the importance of collaboration and specialized talent. “These projects are MEP-heavy and require seamless integration of AI systems, power and cooling. That means design and construction teams have to collaborate in real time,” he explained.

When hiring for these projects, firms often want construction professionals with hands-on experience in power-intensive builds for major tech companies looking to expand their data center footprint.

Arnholter noted that often ideal candidates come from the trades and have evolved into design-build leaders who can coordinate across disciplines and adapt to fast-changing requirements.

3. Evolving Hot Spots and Increasingly Remote Locations

Geography also plays a role in the complexity. In the past, Silicon Valley has been a focal area for these new builds, but now new data center hot spots are emerging in states like Arizona, Virginia, Georgia and Texas.

Many of these new sites are in remote areas, which can make finding the skilled professionals required for these complex projects much harder. This talent shortage can drastically impact a project’s timeline and sometimes hinder a company's ability to complete new builds on time.

How Are Data Center Construction Challenges Being Addressed?

To address these challenges, firms embarking on data center construction projects need massive amounts of skilled talent to not only execute work associated with the build, but to make substantial investments in grid automation to make sure the infrastructure required to support the new data centers is in place.

Many firms are seeking to partner with a staffing solutions provider for interim talent given their ability to bolster the much-needed agility and speed throughout these complex projects. The ability to scale quickly through interim staffing is also a great way firms can stay competitive when bidding on data center projects outside of the common geographic areas they do business within.

“That’s where Actalent can help. We can deploy travel-ready consultants within days or weeks to keep construction on track and moving forward,” Arnholter explained. With a national network of AEC and electrical utility professionals, Actalent connects firms with the skilled talent needed to meet deadlines and support multiple site builds.

Ultimately, the success of data center construction hinges on having the right expertise in place.

“Agility is key… The demand for data isn’t slowing down and neither can construction,” Stoffer said. “To move projects forward, the right expertise makes all the difference. Whether it’s remote builds, tight timelines or highly specialized roles, having the right team in place is the foundation of data center construction success.”