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For hyperscale data center developers, the race is on: scale faster, lower costs, and meet ambitious sustainability targets—all while navigating the inherent challenges of a slow and resource-intensive building process. But what if the rules of the game could be rewritten?

At Salas O’Brien, we’ve done just that. By merging our deep expertise in data centers, power generation, advanced manufacturing processes, and construction, we’ve redefined how hyperscale facilities are designed and delivered. The result? Achieving in 12 months what once took 24.

The key is to think differently. Rather than treating these facilities as static structures, we approach them as complex machines engineered for performance, precision, and speed. This shift in mindset isn’t just about breaking tradition; it’s about setting a new standard for speed to market while achieving quality and long-term operational excellence.

The challenges holding hyperscale development back

Traditional workflows for these complex buildings often create a disconnect between design and implementation, leading to inefficiencies, rework, and delays. Misaligned handoffs between design teams, engineers, and contractors slow progress and leave little room for innovation or agility. Meanwhile, global supply chain disruptions have made sourcing critical materials increasingly unpredictable, further compounding project delays and adding unforeseen costs.

Labor shortages are another pressing issue; the demand for skilled workers in construction far exceeds supply. Without experienced crews, timelines elongate, and quality risks increase. At the same time, inefficiencies in traditional processes result in change orders that drive up budgets, leaving developers with difficult trade-offs between cost, speed, and quality.

Perhaps the most pressing challenge, however, is the urgent need for faster delivery. With skyrocketing demand for digital infrastructure, the conventional approach to building data centers simply can’t keep pace with the industry’s growth trajectory.

To stay competitive, hyperscale cloud companies, AI providers, and data center developers need solutions that bridge the gaps between design and execution, simplify supply chain complexity, and reduce reliance on scarce resources.

What if a data center were designed and built like a complex machine rather than a building?

For centuries, construction has relied on sequential processes. While digital tools have brought improvements, the fundamental approach to taking a building from design through construction hasn’t evolved much since the creation of the Colosseum.

But there are other possible delivery models for these complex facilities. Consider that complex machines are engineered as integrated systems; every component is optimized for efficiency, precision, and performance. The manufacturing process is modular, streamlined, and scalable.

Salas O’Brien has applied these same principles to hyperscale data centers, introducing industrialized processes, modular construction, and system-level integration. The results speak for themselves: faster timelines, reduced complexity, and high-quality facilities that deliver the precision of a finely tuned machine.

Breaking down the process: a smarter path to hyperscale delivery

The foundation of Salas O’Brien’s accelerated approach lies in rethinking every stage of the data center lifecycle: design, fabrication, and construction. Here’s how we make it happen:

• Integrated design and delivery teams. With architects, engineers, and construction experts collaborating from the start, we eliminate silos and deliver seamless coordination. This allows for real-time problem-solving, compresses design timelines, and mitigates risks, protecting clients from costly gaps between design and implementation.
• Advanced building information modeling (BIM) for speed and precision. We leverage BIM as more than just a design tool—it’s the backbone of our manufacturing-inspired approach. By creating highly detailed, dynamic models that integrate every system and component into a digital twin, we can streamline coordination, predict construction timelines with precision, and resolve potential clashes before they happen. This process accelerates delivery and minimizes delays.
• Integrated power and water solutions. Hyperscale data centers require massive energy capacity and cooling infrastructure, often in regions with strained utilities or limited resources. At Salas O’Brien, power generation plants and waste water recycling plants are designed as core components of the facility rather than add-ons. This integrated approach ensures efficient, scalable, and sustainable power and water solutions, enabling faster implementation and long-term operational resilience.
• Modular construction and prefabrication. A modular approach allows for parallel construction processes, addressing labor shortages and supply chain challenges. Mechanical skids, electrical systems, and structural modules are prefabricated off-site to exacting standards. These components arrive ready for rapid assembly, significantly reducing onsite construction time and risks.
• End-to-end project oversight. From supply chain management to onsite commissioning, our holistic approach ensures every element of the project aligns with the client’s goals for speed, sustainability, and cost control.

This approach creates exponential efficiency, helping hyperscale data centers achieve speed to market while maintaining quality and performance.

How Salas O’Brien can help data centers achieve speed to market

As a leader in this sector, Salas O’Brien is redefining what’s possible for hyperscale data centers by delivering facilities more quickly and with greater precision and sustainability. Our team’s expertise in engineering, advanced manufacturing processes, and construction ensures that your data center not only comes online sooner but also exceeds expectations for performance and reliability.

From day one, we work as an integrated partner, identifying risks, solving challenges, and leveraging the latest tools and methods to accelerate every phase of your project. Whether it’s through modular construction, advanced BIM techniques, or seamlessly integrated power and cooling solutions, our approach is designed to meet the demands of today’s hyperscale developers.

In an industry where speed to market is everything, Salas O’Brien delivers the solutions you need to stay ahead. Let’s build the future of digital infrastructure—together.

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