Key Trends in the $41 billion U.S. Data Center Construction Market

Summary

Join the Building Design+Construction editorial team for this webinar on key trends and innovations in the $41 billion U.S. data center construction market. This live webinar will take place Thursday, October 15, at 1 pm ET.

A panel of data center design and construction firms from three leading Data Center Giant firms present the latest architecture, engineering, and construction trends, opportunities, obstacles, and data/research related to the data center facilities market.

Learning Objectives:

Discuss the environmental impacts of modern, large-scale data center developments, and how project teams and data center developers can minimize both short- and long-term effects to local communities.
Review the latest design trends in data center developments, including acoustic design, lighting design, MEP engineering, and landscape design approaches to reduce the impact of data center facilities on the surrounding community.
Learn about emerging and popular construction approaches, including modular construction, prefabrication, and other labor-, time-, and cost-saving practices.
Analyze airflow and cooling challenges associated with both air- and liquid-cooled facilities and describe strategies to ensure effective thermal performance.
Discuss compliance and mitigation approaches for community-adjacent concerns, including acoustics, sightlines and aesthetics, mechanical yard visibility, and water usage.

Supported By

This webinar is made possible thanks to our supporting Data Center Giants sponsor: Construction Specialties.

Meet The Experts

TOPIC: DATA CENTER ARCHITECTURE TRENDS

Bio

Marcela DeLong, AIA, oversees the design and delivery of high-profile, high-performance data centers across the U.S. As a Principal in Corgan’s Data Centers Studio, Marcela helps shape the firm’s strategy to meet unprecedented demand for digital infrastructure, advance sustainable design practices, and integrate emerging technologies into data center environments. Marcela partners with clients to navigate complex challenges and deliver resilient, future-ready facilities. She is also a passionate advocate for developing the next generation of industry leaders, mentoring architects and designers as they grow into well-rounded professionals and trusted project leaders.

TOPIC: DATA CENTER ENGINEERING TRENDS

Bio

As the Vice President and global leader of Mission Critical at Burns & McDonnell, Christine Wood oversees a dynamic team that manages data center projects across more than 25 countries for some of the world’s most recognized companies. Her team has managed more than $90 billion in design and construction projects for the data center industry as well as onsite energy and power markets. Now, she leads a team of 500+ professionals dedicated to the data center industry.

TOPIC: DATA CENTER CONSTRUCTION TRENDS

Bio

With 20 years of experience in commercial construction, Evan Antonides has built his career around operational leadership, complex mission critical delivery, client partnerships, and developing high-performing teams. Since joining HITT in 2006, he has progressed through roles of increasing responsibility and played a defining role in building HITT’s mission critical business into the nation’s largest data center construction firm. Before being named Co-President in 2024, Evan led HITT’s mission critical sector, overseeing projects ranging from tenant fit-outs and colocation facilities to large-scale greenfield campuses and phased expansions for leading hyperscale and Fortune 500 companies. Today, as Co-President and a member of HITT’s Principal Leadership Team, he provides executive oversight of the company’s mission critical business nationwide, as well as regional operations across the Southeast and Texas, while helping shape HITT’s broader strategy around growth, operational performance, safety, innovation, leadership development, and the evolving delivery needs of increasingly complex projects.

Moderator

Bio

David Barista has covered the U.S. construction industry for more than 25 years, including multiple editorial roles at Building Design+Construction magazine, where he currently serves as Editorial Director. Previously, David was Editor-in-Chief of Professional Builder, Custom Builder, and ProBuilder.com, properties that combined reach more than 200,000 residential design and construction professionals. He is a seven-time Jesse H. Neal Award winner and an eight-time finalist, recognizing excellence in business journalism.

HSW justification

All three presentations cover multiple themes related to the health, safety, and welfare of building occupants and the surrounding community, including low-carbon design, sustainability, acoustic design, renewable energy, on-site power generation, energy-efficient building system, and lighting design.

Education Level: Intermediate

Summary

Supported By

Meet The Experts

TOPIC: DATA CENTER ARCHITECTURE TRENDS

Marcela DeLong, AIA

TOPIC: DATA CENTER ENGINEERING TRENDS

Christine B. Wood, PE, LEED AP

TOPIC: DATA CENTER CONSTRUCTION TRENDS

Evan Antonides

Moderator

David Barista

Registration

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