“Data centers are found across the United States and are always controlled environments,” Bedke says. “They have limits on temperature ranges, humidity levels, and access for security purposes. These facilities may be just a room or two in an office setting or they may take up an entire floor. We are seeing more activity than ever with respect to large, campus-like data centers but the 'average' is about 150,000 square feet.”

Site Selection Factors

A key driver when looking for data center locations is the availability of cheap and reliable sources of power. A plentiful supply of water is also important for cooling purposes. Other considerations include an area where land is relatively inexpensive and that is not susceptible to natural disasters.

“An area with an educated workforce is another factor to be considered. While Northern Virginia, California and other areas along the coasts have seen a lot of data center development, there has been a bit of a migration to the Midwest and Mountain West. Illinois, Iowa, Ohio, Colorado, Nevada and Utah are seeing an influx of data centers,” says Bedke.