Conference Day One
7:00 am Check-In, Coffee & Networking
8:00 am Chair’s Opening Remarks
Staying Ahead of The Curve
8:10 am Harnessing the Power of Evolving Chip Technology to Prepare Your Projects for Tomorrow’s Demands
Synopsis
- Staying at the forefront of innovation: exploring changes in mechanical and electrical infrastructure for future facilities
- Assessing the specifications of current chip technologies to address the need to adapt facility layout for required power demand and cooling systems
- Understanding how changing chip technology impacts current facilities: how can they be retrofitted efficiently to meet demands?
8:50 am Case Study: Assessing the Differences in AI Facility Infrastructure to Enhance Future Project Delivery
Synopsis
- Introducing NVIDIA technology and it’s mechanical and electrical impacts to the built environment: how does this differ from today’s cloud data centers?
- Options and design/construction insights for rapid design prototyping and procurement execution
- Building the plane while in flight – understanding and generating architectural and MEP system options for AI facility deployments in the face of unknown AI IT programs
9:45 am Morning Refreshments & Speed Networking
Overcoming Power Constraints
10:30 am Panel Discussion: Developing Relationships With Local Utility Providers to Meet Power Demands & Expedite Approval Timelines
Synopsis
- Navigating current utility and transmission constraints across the West to better define favorable regulatory environments and existing infrastructure
- Developing innovative solutions and tapping into untouched capacity for securing power within local jurisdictions
- Building effective relationships with utility providers to support project power demands
11:10 am Assessing Onsite Power Solutions to Bypass Utility Delays
Synopsis
- Understanding the short and long-term horizons of onsite power solutions to better prepare and plan for the now
- Evaluating microgrids, natural gas turbines, fuel cells, and other hybrid power technologies to determine cost, efficiency, and reliability factors
- Analyzing the pros and cons, including political and regulatory sensitivities, and feasibility of different onsite power solutions
Setting Projects up for Success
10:30 am Panel Discussion: Defining Your Client’s Project Requirements Early to Minimize Change Orders & Exceed Client Expectations
Synopsis
- Aligning project execution with client expectations: how to increase visibility from day one to reduce change orders
- Learning how to clearly define the project scope and manage changes effectively to mitigate potential risks
- Examining the latest project management tools to enhance accuracy and streamline updates between contractors
11:10 am Case Study: Enhancing Communication & Collaboration Across the Project Team to Align & Achieve Project Goals
Synopsis
- Establishing what early collaboration with the project team looks like to determine project outcomes and plan for success
- Building the business case for bringing on partners earlier: demonstrating the ROI of engagement from all project partners
- Implementing effective collaboration tools and practices to streamline information sharing and decision-making, ensuring all team members are aligned
12:20 pm Networking Lunch
Adapting to Novel Solutions
1:20 pm Case Study: Exploring the Use of Alternative Power Solutions in Practice
Synopsis
- Exploring how to communicate and implement alternative power solutions into your operational facility to reduce delays in delivery
- Understanding the technical requirements and installation steps for integrating alternative power solutions to ensure seamless operation and reliability
- Evaluating the economic impacts of an alternative power solution generation technologies to determine costeffectiveness and potential for widespread adoption
2:00 pm Panel Discussion: Exploring the Technical Requirements of Direct-To-Chip Cooling to Remain Equipped for Rising Demand
Synopsis
- Understanding how direct-to-chip liquid cooling systems differ from traditional air-cooled systems, the types available and how applicable it is to your future projects
- Clarifying the expected timeframe for transitioning to liquid cooling to better prepare for upcoming changes
- Evaluating facility constraints to determine the most suitable liquid cooling system, ensuring seamless integration and optimized performance during construction
2:40 pm Assessing Complex Retrofitting Practices for Liquid Cooling to Improve Integration Within Existing Facilities
Synopsis
- Assessing the infrastructure required when retrofitting liquid cooling into a facility vs in a greenfield project
- Clarifying considerations for integrating liquid cooling equipment with existing power and networking infrastructure
- Evaluating best practice in retrofitting while minimizing disruption to avoid disruption to ongoing operations and existing workflow
Expediting Project Performance
1:20 pm Case Study: Working With Design Teams to Ensure Constructability
Synopsis
- Defining an efficient RFI process that fosters a collaborative relationship and proactively addresses design ambiguities early on
- Evaluating how general contractors, trades and designers work together to capture expertise early on to prevent rework
- Using BIM to identify and resolve potential clashes before construction begins
2:00 pm Case Study: Balancing Speed, Safety & Efficiency in Data Center Delivery
Synopsis
- Analyzing where failures in safety and quality occur most frequently to create focus on your jobsites
- Integrating a safety culture in high efficiency construction schedules to prevent risk
- Incentivising your team to prioritize safety as a core competency metric to tackle injury and rework
2:40 pm Case Study: Managing Material Delays & Logistical Bottlenecks to Protect Project Schedules
Synopsis
- Exploring the immediate steps like re-sequencing tasks and reallocating resources to minimize delays
- Understanding how to implement contingency plans that manage potential delays and keep the project on track
- Discovering how flexible project management techniques, can help teams adapt to delays and protect the project schedule
3:20 pm Afternoon Refreshments & Networking
Developing Internal Labor Capacity
3:50 pm Exploring Alternative Solutions to Labor Constraints to Fulfil Required Expertise
Synopsis
- Engaging schools, local unions and communities to build the talent resource pool to the specific expertise required in mission critical facilities
- Communicating the attractiveness of a career in the specific roles needed in data centers to elevate and position it as desirable career option
- Assessing alternative methods regardless of financial incentives to mitigate turnover and poaching in highly competitive data center hot spots
4:30 pm Audience Breakouts: Exploring Specific Talent Challenges to Better Orientate Your Specific Solutions
Synopsis
This session will break attendees into specialized groups to share insights on local talent resources. By collaborating and leveraging these local resources, participants will strategize on effectively delivering projects and forging valuable partnerships despite the skilled labor shortage.
Clients, Colocators
& End-Users
Designers
Mechanical
Trades
Electrical
Trades
Mechanical
Trades
General
Contractors
Modular
Firms