What will it take to build the world’s largest data center?
April 07, 2026
{
"description": "",
"ideasArticleShareLabel": "Share",
"networks": [
"linkedin",
"twitter",
"email"
]
}
Amanda Carter shares challenges that come with the expansion of smarter and larger AI data centers in IEEE Spectrum
{
"text": "
The undying thirst for smarter (and historically, larger) artificial intelligence (AI) models and greater adoption of the ones we already have has led to an expansion in data-center construction projects, unparalleled in number and scale. Still, the scale of the largest AI data centers brings unique challenges.
Amanda Carter, senior technical lead, says the thermal conductivity of soil is important, as most electrical infrastructure is placed underground. If the soil has high thermal resistivity, it becomes difficult to release heat efficiently. Engineers may take hundreds or thousands of soil samples before construction can begin..
There’s no shortage of eligible sites, as both the number of data centers under construction and the money spent on them has skyrocketed. The spending has allowed companies building data centers to look for alternatives.
" }
{
"as": "a",
"children": "Read Full Article",
"href": "https:\/\/spectrum.ieee.org\/5gw\u002Ddata\u002Dcenter",
"target": "_blank",
"variant": "big-button"
}
Share
{
"description": "",
"ideasArticleShareLabel": "Share",
"networks": [
"linkedin",
"twitter",
"email"
]
}
-
An electrical design lead, Amanda manages a team of electrical engineers and is a trusted advisor to some of the biggest data center clients in the world. She provides electrical design and specification for multi-tenant and hyperscale data centers.
Contact Amanda
{
"headline": "Related Projects",
"link": {
"text":"",
"url":""
},
"newTab": false,
"uuid": "ab3d2297\u002D2c00\u002D4926\u002Dbab5\u002D29754e632618",
"themeClass": "home-related-items",
"tabs": [
{
"headline": "",
"active": true,
"tabLabel": "Slide Card",
"pages": [
{
"pageExists": true,
"cardLabel": "Slide Card 0 - Dallas Area Rapid Transit Communications and Control Systems",
"link": {
"text":"Dallas Area Rapid Transit Communications and Control Systems",
"url":"\/en\/projects\/united\u002Dstates\u002Dprojects\/d\/dallas\u002Darea\u002Drapid\u002Dtransit\u002Dcommunications\u002Dand\u002Dcontrol\u002Dsystems.html"
},
"promoImage": "\/content\/dam\/stantec\/images\/projects\/0020\/dallas\u002Darea\u002Drapid\u002Dtransit\u002Dcommunications\u002Dand\u002Dcontrols\u002D43167.jpg",
"overwriteHeadline": "Dallas Area Rapid Transit Communications and Control Systems",
"overwriteSubhead": "Dallas, Texas",
"aorLabel": "Architect",
"architectOfRecord": ""
},
{
"pageExists": true,
"cardLabel": "Slide Card 1 - Edmonton Transit System Control Centre",
"link": {
"text":"Edmonton Transit System Control Centre",
"url":"\/en\/projects\/canada\u002Dprojects\/e2\/ets\u002Dcontrol\u002Dcentre.html"
},
"promoImage": "\/content\/dam\/stantec\/images\/projects\/0021\/ets\u002Dcontrol\u002Dcentre\u002D90520.jpg",
"overwriteHeadline": "Edmonton Transit System Control Centre",
"overwriteSubhead": "Edmonton, Alberta",
"aorLabel": "Architect",
"architectOfRecord": ""
},
{
"pageExists": true,
"cardLabel": "Slide Card 2 - STACK Infrastructure TOR01 Data Center Campus",
"link": {
"text":"STACK Infrastructure TOR01 Data Center Campus",
"url":"\/en\/projects\/canada\u002Dprojects\/s\/stack\u002Dinfrastructure\u002Ddata\u002Dcenter\u002Dcampus.html"
},
"promoImage": "\/content\/dam\/stantec\/images\/projects\/0041\/stack\u002Dinfrastructure\u002Ddata\u002Dcenter\u002Dcampus.jpg",
"overwriteHeadline": "STACK Infrastructure TOR01 Data Center Campus",
"overwriteSubhead": "Toronto, Ontario",
"aorLabel": "Architect",
"architectOfRecord": "WZMH"
},
{
"pageExists": true,
"cardLabel": "Slide Card 3 - SpaceDC Hyperscale Data Centre",
"link": {
"text":"SpaceDC Hyperscale Data Centre",
"url":"\/en\/projects\/australia\u002Dprojects\/s\/spacedc\u002Dhyperscale\u002Ddata\u002Dcentre.html"
},
"promoImage": "\/content\/dam\/stantec\/images\/projects\/0117\/spacedc.jpg",
"overwriteHeadline": "SpaceDC Hyperscale Data Centre",
"overwriteSubhead": "Jakarta, Indonesia",
"aorLabel": "Architect",
"architectOfRecord": "Tetra Desaindo PT"
},
{
"pageExists": true,
"cardLabel": "Slide Card 4 - Mineral Gap Data Center - Secure Colocation Design",
"link": {
"text":"Mineral Gap Data Center \u002D Secure Colocation Design",
"url":"\/en\/projects\/united\u002Dstates\u002Dprojects\/m\/mineral\u002Dgap\u002Ddata\u002Dcenter\u002Dsecure\u002Dcolocation\u002Ddesign.html"
},
"promoImage": "\/content\/dam\/stantec\/images\/projects\/0010\/mineral\u002Dgap\u002Ddata\u002Dcenter.jpg",
"overwriteHeadline": "Mineral Gap Data Center \u002D Secure Colocation Design",
"overwriteSubhead": "Wise, Virginia",
"aorLabel": "Architect",
"architectOfRecord": ""
},
{
"pageExists": true,
"cardLabel": "Slide Card 5 - Digital Realty Wholesale Data Center Conversion Design at TOR1",
"link": {
"text":"Digital Realty Wholesale Data Center Conversion Design at TOR1",
"url":"\/en\/projects\/canada\u002Dprojects\/d\/digital\u002Drealty\u002Dwholesale\u002Ddata\u002Dcenter\u002Dconversion\u002Ddesign\u002Dtor1.html"
},
"promoImage": "\/content\/dam\/stantec\/images\/stock\/other\/004\/toronto\u002Dontario\u002Dadobestock\u002D105784710.jpg",
"overwriteHeadline": "Digital Realty Wholesale Data Center Conversion Design at TOR1",
"overwriteSubhead": "Vaughan, Ontario",
"aorLabel": "Architect",
"architectOfRecord": ""
},
{
"pageExists": true,
"cardLabel": "Slide Card 6 - Hyperscale Data Centre—Auckland",
"link": {
"text":"Hyperscale Data Centre—Auckland",
"url":"\/en\/projects\/new\u002Dzealand\u002Dprojects\/h\/hyperscale\u002Ddata\u002Dcentre\u002Dauckland.html"
},
"promoImage": "\/content\/dam\/stantec\/images\/stock\/other\/0017\/hyperscale\u002Ddata\u002Dcentres.jpg",
"overwriteHeadline": "Hyperscale Data Centre—Auckland",
"overwriteSubhead": "Auckland, New Zealand",
"aorLabel": "Architect",
"architectOfRecord": ""
},
{
"pageExists": true,
"cardLabel": "Slide Card 7 - Confidential Data Centres",
"link": {
"text":"Confidential Data Centres",
"url":"\/en\/projects\/australia\u002Dprojects\/c\/confidential\u002Ddata\u002Dcentres.html"
},
"promoImage": "\/content\/dam\/stantec\/images\/stock\/other\/0002\/server\u002Droom\u002Dadobestock\u002D428944645.jpg",
"overwriteHeadline": "Confidential Data Centres",
"overwriteSubhead": "Confidential",
"aorLabel": "Architect",
"architectOfRecord": "EJE Architecture"
},
{
"pageExists": true,
"cardLabel": "Slide Card 8 - QTS Chicago - Data Center Feasibility and Design",
"link": {
"text":"QTS Chicago \u002D Data Center Feasibility and Design",
"url":"\/en\/projects\/united\u002Dstates\u002Dprojects\/q\/qts\u002Dchicago\u002Ddata\u002Dcenter\u002Dfeasibility\u002Ddesign.html"
},
"promoImage": "\/content\/dam\/stantec\/images\/projects\/0107\/qts\u002Dchicago\u002D231895.jpg",
"overwriteHeadline": "QTS Chicago \u002D Data Center Feasibility and Design",
"overwriteSubhead": "Chicago, Illinois",
"aorLabel": "Architect",
"architectOfRecord": "Corgan Associates"
},
{
"pageExists": true,
"cardLabel": "Slide Card 9 - New Zealand Tier 3 Data Center Design",
"link": {
"text":"New Zealand Tier 3 Data Center Design",
"url":"\/en\/projects\/australia\u002Dprojects\/n\/new\u002Dzealand\u002Dtier\u002D3\u002Ddata\u002Dcenter\u002Ddesign.html"
},
"promoImage": "\/content\/dam\/stantec\/images\/stock\/other\/0015\/data\u002Dcenter\u002Dadobestock\u002D588698879.jpg",
"overwriteHeadline": "New Zealand Tier 3 Data Center Design",
"overwriteSubhead": "New Zealand",
"aorLabel": "Architect",
"architectOfRecord": "Designgroup Stapleton Elliott"
},
{
"pageExists": true,
"cardLabel": "Slide Card 10 - Digital Realty Data Center Campus",
"link": {
"text":"Digital Realty Data Center Campus",
"url":"\/en\/projects\/united\u002Dstates\u002Dprojects\/d\/digital\u002Drealty\u002Ddata\u002Dcenter\u002Dcampus.html"
},
"promoImage": "\/content\/dam\/stantec\/images\/projects\/0117\/digital\u002Drealty\u002Dfranklin\u002Dpark\u002D2.jpg",
"overwriteHeadline": "Digital Realty Data Center Campus",
"overwriteSubhead": "Franklin Park, Illinois",
"aorLabel": "Architect",
"architectOfRecord": "Sheehan Nagle Hartray Architects, a Woolpert Company (Retrofit projects) ARCHIDEAS, Inc. (New construction)"
},
{
"pageExists": true,
"cardLabel": "Slide Card 11 - Relocation of Bank of Canada’s Data Center",
"link": {
"text":"Relocation of Bank of Canada’s Data Center",
"url":"\/en\/projects\/canada\u002Dprojects\/r\/relocation\u002Dof\u002Dbank\u002Dof\u002Dcanadas\u002Ddata\u002Dcenter.html"
},
"promoImage": "\/content\/dam\/stantec\/images\/projects\/0076\/bank\u002Dof\u002Dcanada\u002Ddata\u002Dcenter\u002D2.jpg",
"overwriteHeadline": "Relocation of Bank of Canada’s Data Center",
"overwriteSubhead": "Ottawa, Canada",
"aorLabel": "Architect",
"architectOfRecord": ""
},
{
"pageExists": true,
"cardLabel": "Slide Card 12 - Data Center Siting and Feasibility Studies",
"link": {
"text":"Data Center Siting and Feasibility Studies",
"url":"\/en\/projects\/canada\u002Dprojects\/c\/confidential\u002Ddata\u002Dcenter\u002Dfeasibility\u002Dservices.html"
},
"promoImage": "\/content\/dam\/stantec\/images\/projects\/0100\/data\u002Dcentre\u002Dadobe\u002Dstock\u002D169491151.jpg",
"overwriteHeadline": "Data Center Siting and Feasibility Studies",
"overwriteSubhead": "Confidential",
"aorLabel": "Architect",
"architectOfRecord": ""
},
{
"pageExists": true,
"cardLabel": "Slide Card 13 - National Data Center Load Increase Feasibility and Design",
"link": {
"text":"National Data Center Load Increase Feasibility and Design",
"url":"\/en\/projects\/canada\u002Dprojects\/c\/confidential\u002Ddata\u002Dcenter\u002Dload\u002Dincrease.html"
},
"promoImage": "\/content\/dam\/stantec\/images\/projects\/0100\/data\u002Dcentre\u002Dadobe\u002Dstock\u002D140018438.jpg",
"overwriteHeadline": "National Data Center Load Increase Feasibility and Design",
"overwriteSubhead": "Canada",
"aorLabel": "Architect",
"architectOfRecord": ""
},
{
"pageExists": true,
"cardLabel": "Slide Card 14 - Confidential Mission Critical Control Center",
"link": {
"text":"Confidential Mission Critical Control Center",
"url":"\/en\/projects\/united\u002Dstates\u002Dprojects\/c\/confidential\u002Dmission\u002Dcritical\u002Dcontrol\u002Dcenter.html"
},
"promoImage": "\/content\/dam\/stantec\/images\/projects\/0047\/confidential\u002Dmission\u002Dcritical\u002Dcontrol\u002Dcenter\u002D1.jpg",
"overwriteHeadline": "Confidential Mission Critical Control Center",
"overwriteSubhead": "Houston, Texas",
"aorLabel": "Architect",
"architectOfRecord": ""
},
{
"pageExists": true,
"cardLabel": "Slide Card 15 - Confidential Semiconductor Manufacturer Site-Wide Contract",
"link": {
"text":"Confidential Semiconductor Manufacturer Site\u002DWide Contract",
"url":"\/en\/projects\/united\u002Dstates\u002Dprojects\/c\/confidential\u002Dsemiconductor\u002Dmanufacturer\u002Dsite\u002Dwide\u002Dcontract.html"
},
"promoImage": "\/content\/dam\/stantec\/images\/projects\/0026\/confidential\u002Dsemiconductor\u002Dmanufacturer\u002Dsite\u002Dwide\u002Dcontract\u002D1.jpg",
"overwriteHeadline": "Confidential Semiconductor Manufacturer Site\u002DWide Contract",
"overwriteSubhead": "Confidential",
"aorLabel": "Architect",
"architectOfRecord": ""
},
{
"pageExists": true,
"cardLabel": "Slide Card 16 - Ark Data Centres – Longcross Park Design and Construction Support",
"link": {
"text":"Ark Data Centres – Longcross Park Design and Construction Support",
"url":"\/en\/projects\/united\u002Dkingdom\u002Dprojects\/a\/ark\u002Ddata\u002Dcentres\u002Dlongcross\u002Dpark\u002Ddesign\u002Dconstruction\u002Dsupport.html"
},
"promoImage": "\/content\/dam\/stantec\/images\/projects\/0013\/ark\u002Ddata\u002Dcentres\u002Dlongcross\u002Dpark\u002D281321.jpg",
"overwriteHeadline": "Ark Data Centres – Longcross Park Design and Construction Support",
"overwriteSubhead": "Chertsey, Surrey, United Kingdom",
"aorLabel": "Architect",
"architectOfRecord": "Hale"
},
{
"pageExists": true,
"cardLabel": "Slide Card 17 - Hyperscale Data Center Campuses",
"link": {
"text":"Hyperscale Data Center Campuses",
"url":"\/en\/projects\/united\u002Dstates\u002Dprojects\/c\/confidential\u002Dhyperscale\u002Ddata\u002Dcenter\u002Dcampuses.html"
},
"promoImage": "\/content\/dam\/stantec\/images\/stock\/other\/0002\/server\u002Droom\u002Dadobestock\u002D428944645.jpg",
"overwriteHeadline": "Hyperscale Data Center Campuses",
"overwriteSubhead": "Various Locations, United States",
"aorLabel": "Architect",
"architectOfRecord": ""
},
{
"pageExists": true,
"cardLabel": "Slide Card 18 - Wellcome Sanger Institute Data Center Resilience Assessment and Analysis",
"link": {
"text":"Wellcome Sanger Institute Data Center Resilience Assessment and Analysis",
"url":"\/en\/projects\/united\u002Dkingdom\u002Dprojects\/w\/wellcome\u002Dsanger\u002Dinstitute\u002Ddata\u002Dcenter\u002Dresilience\u002Dassessment\u002Danalysis.html"
},
"promoImage": "\/content\/dam\/stantec\/images\/projects\/0080\/wellcome\u002Dsanger\u002Dinstitute\u002Ddata\u002Dcentre\u002Dresilience\u002Dassessment\u002Danalysis\u002D.jpg",
"overwriteHeadline": "Wellcome Sanger Institute Data Center Resilience Assessment and Analysis",
"overwriteSubhead": "Cambridge, United Kingdom",
"aorLabel": "Architect",
"architectOfRecord": ""
},
{
"pageExists": true,
"cardLabel": "Slide Card 19 - Finsbury Infrastructure – Data Center Due Diligence",
"link": {
"text":"Finsbury Infrastructure – Data Center Due Diligence",
"url":"\/en\/projects\/united\u002Dkingdom\u002Dprojects\/f\/finsbury\u002Dinfrastructure\u002Ddata\u002Dcentre\u002Ddue\u002Ddiligence.html"
},
"promoImage": "\/content\/dam\/stantec\/images\/stock\/other\/0014\/finsbury\u002Dinfrastructure\u002Ddata\u002Dcenter\u002Dadobestock\u002D298559228.jpg",
"overwriteHeadline": "Finsbury Infrastructure – Data Center Due Diligence",
"overwriteSubhead": "United Kingdom",
"aorLabel": "Architect",
"architectOfRecord": ""
},
{
"pageExists": true,
"cardLabel": "Slide Card 20 - Fujitsu Data Centres - Melbourne, Sydney, and Perth",
"link": {
"text":"Fujitsu Data Centres \u002D Melbourne, Sydney, and Perth",
"url":"\/en\/projects\/australia\u002Dprojects\/f\/fujitsu\u002Ddata\u002Dcentres\u002Dmelbourne\u002Dsydney\u002Dand\u002Dperth.html"
},
"promoImage": "\/content\/dam\/stantec\/images\/projects\/0117\/fujitsu\u002Ddata\u002Dcentres.jpg",
"overwriteHeadline": "Fujitsu Data Centres \u002D Melbourne, Sydney, and Perth",
"overwriteSubhead": "Melbourne, Sydney, Perth, Australia",
"aorLabel": "Architect",
"architectOfRecord": "Genton"
},
{
"pageExists": true,
"cardLabel": "Slide Card 21 - NTT Data Center Campus Design Services",
"link": {
"text":"NTT Data Center Campus Design Services",
"url":"\/en\/projects\/united\u002Dstates\u002Dprojects\/n\/ntt\u002Ddata\u002Dcenter\u002Dcampus\u002Ddesign\u002Dservices.html"
},
"promoImage": "\/content\/dam\/stantec\/images\/projects\/0073\/ntt\u002Ddata\u002Dcenter\u002Dcampus\u002D1.jpg",
"overwriteHeadline": "NTT Data Center Campus Design Services",
"overwriteSubhead": "Garland, Texas",
"aorLabel": "Architect",
"architectOfRecord": ""
},
{
"pageExists": true,
"cardLabel": "Slide Card 22 - Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (AUS) IT Building Expansion",
"link": {
"text":"Austin\u002DBergstrom International Airport (AUS) IT Building Expansion",
"url":"\/en\/projects\/united\u002Dstates\u002Dprojects\/a\/austin\u002Dbergstrom\u002Dinternational\u002Dairport\u002Dit\u002Dbuilding\u002Dexpansion.html"
},
"promoImage": "\/content\/dam\/stantec\/images\/projects\/0047\/austin\u002Dbergstrom\u002Dint\u002Dairport\u002Dit\u002Dbuilding\u002Dexpansion\u002D279914.jpg",
"overwriteHeadline": "Austin\u002DBergstrom International Airport (AUS) IT Building Expansion",
"overwriteSubhead": "Austin, Texas",
"aorLabel": "Architect",
"architectOfRecord": ""
}
]
},
{
"headline": "",
"active": false,
"tabLabel": "Slide Card",
"pages": [
]
},
{
"headline": "",
"active": false,
"tabLabel": "Slide Card",
"pages": [
]
},
{
"headline": "",
"active": false,
"tabLabel": "Slide Card",
"pages": [
]
}
]
}