Learn more about how we support personal and professional development at Bryden Wood.For pretty much forever, on-site or in-situ construction has been the default way of building.

10 to 15 years ago, when average cab density was still well below 10kW per cab, proximity to fibre network was the key indicator for site viability.However, the expansion of fibre networks and reduced latency criticality associated with AI, has shifted the focus to power availability.

Increased non-water-based cooling demands with an associated increase in power consumption is further driving most site acquisition conversations to focus on power, and lead time to power availability..The simplicity of the single-story campus also remains a key challenge for Europe, and, even in the US, this development strategy is being challenged.Multi-story building geometries with associated distribution complexities and more space for plant are having to be envisioned, carrying with them potential impact on CapEx and OpEx envelopes, as well as embodied carbon and carbon in use.

Along with this, speed to market remains high on the agenda and, by default, pre-construction timescales are increasingly coming under pressure..The dream for design standardisation remains alive but is being challenged by rapidly changing technology and service demands.

The development of localisation and local code compliance for standardised design is a key USP but a balance must be struck between standardisation, localisation, and the ability to pivot towards rapidly evolving technology and tenant demands.. What are the problems that need to be solved?.

The programme for delivering a new data centre is three to five years.The industry needs a shift in business models, moving away from return on capital employed to a focus on sustainability and innovation.

Achieving net-zero carbon goals is critical, and future construction must be more digitally integrated and collaborative.When we talk about the sustainable design of buildings, we have two core objectives: reducing environmental impact, and providing a healthy space for occupants.For this reason, implementing a sustainable design strategy incorporates every aspect of the building process, from the earliest design stages through to construction and post-completion.

Evaluating an asset’s performance, and understanding how its entire environment operates, forms a key part of our work within Sustainability and Building Physics at Bryden Wood.We look at how a building gains heat in summer, or loses it in winter; how it requires natural or artificial light; as well as issues like temperature control, moisture and air movement.