The secret to data center expansion: modular construction

It’s no surprise that the demand for data centers has increased since March 2020. With so many people turning to digital entertainment, a work from home lifestyle and remote schooling environments, this increase in network traffic is leaving online technology-based companies looking for data center space beyond the scope of their on-premise resources.

Luckily, colocation data centers can take the burden of running a data center off your shoulders. NTT’s Global Data Centers Americas division offers access to data centers all over the world. One of the key strategies that enabled us to expand our platform to 160 data centers across 20 countries and regions is the concept of modular construction, which lowers production costs, speeds up timelines and provides customizable spaces for customers.

The concept of modular construction is simple. By simultaneously constructing the data center shell onsite while the mechanical and electrical components are manufactured at an offsite factory, our team can speed up the timeline of production. The modules are then shipped to the site and installed for just in time commissioning.

Not only does manufacturing offer a more efficient solution, but it also increases the integrity of the product. Often, building large components onsite has limitations, whereas building in a manufacturing warehouse allows for the use of better materials, more thorough testing and specialized labor.

There are many benefits to a modular construction approach:

1. Lower costs from buying material in large volumes for quantity discounts.
2. Better scheduling of resources from using repeatable processes.
3. Reduction of on-site manpower from using prefabricated components.
4. Lower labor workforce rates from using factory assembly staff vs. tradesmen on site.
5. Fewer costly weather-related delays by shifting prefab components indoors.
6. Lower costs associated with QA/QC through factory controlled repeatable processes.

Overall, modular construction is a smart and efficient way of constructing data centers, leading to faster delivery at a lower price point for data center customers.