We are at a critical point in time where data is the new oil, but to access that precious new oil is all the buzz. We must have the correct tools and infrastructure to drill for it, and that critical infrastructure all rests on erecting more data centers. Construction companies are now tasked with building this infrastructure of the future, which will not be an easy feat.
Here at Constructech, Connected World, and The Peggy Smedley Show, we have watched closely the trends related to the North American engineering and construction market, and there is one clear trend for 2026: data-center construction will surge. These mega projects are fueling the rise of data centers all over the globe, but the recent economic climate has put a little wrinkle in exactly what the future holds, at least in the short term.
AGC (Associated General Contractors) of America research highlights the fact that the AEC (architecture, engineering, and construction) industry has dampened expectations for 2026. Key areas still expecting demand include data centers and power facilities.
The reality is that innovation today can’t scale without the infrastructure and as such, we are seeing a big push to modernize all areas including data centers, power delivery, broadband and connectivity, and more. Government and industry both recognize outdated infrastructure cannot support the innovation that is needed today.
Here’s the good news. Construction companies recognize this trend and they are responding. For example, Clayco and Deep Atomic are participating in a multidisciplinary consortium to develop nuclear-powered AI (artificial intelligence) data center and energy infrastructure campuses.
This represents the next generation of data storage and collection, and it will completely transform how industries power, store, and process information. As a result, construction companies will need to build data centers fast and furious if we want to keep up with all the advancing technology.
As all of this happens, here are eight big trends to keep in mind, as construction companies build the data center of the future:
Future-proof data centers: Technology is shifting fast and today’s construction companies must think more like systems engineers than traditional construction companies. Projects must be scalable and flexible.
Power availability is a challenge: Coordinate early with utilities and plan for substations and on-site generation.
Cooling is a consideration: Traditional air cooling is hitting limits. Liquid cooling is becoming standard for high-density racks, which ultimately changes floor design, plumbing, materials, and maintenance access. Water usage and heat reuse factor into this as well.
Site selection becomes key: Climate, water availability, proximity to renewable energy, and latency are all key requirements for many projects today. This will become essential and many growing pains will become apparent as each new center emerges. But with new challenges comes new opportunities to solve them with new and faster solutions.
Network connectivity and redundancy at every level: Downtime costs are too big and thus power, cooling, and the network become essential.
Workforce and supply-chain constraints: Labor shortages and supply chain challenges are driving real challenges for all segments of construction. This must be a top priority for those working on data center projects today.
Sustainability and other regulations: Standards are becoming a critical consideration on many construction projects today, as companies plan for energy efficiency, low-carbon materials, and the entire lifecycle.
Physical and digital collide: Facilities must be hardened against both physical threats and cyber risks. This includes layered access control, surveillance, and integration with IT security requirements. This is not what do we do after the bad-guys attack. This is all preparation-ready stuff.
The bottomline is America needs to invest in its infrastructure, both building new infrastructure and maintaining the existing infrastructure in many forms. It doesn’t take much to see it all crumble like a house of cards. But we are building a stronger tomorrow that should last for many years to come. As we see the rise of AI in many industries, data centers will surge (literally), and we will need to prepare for a new era of construction.
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