PORR has already completed seven data centres for well-known international players such as Vantage Data Centers and Data4 in Germany and Poland. They have a capacity of up to 30 MW. The eighth is under construction. The operators believe these locations hold particular potential: Poland is increasingly closing the gap to the so-called FLAP-D cities (Frankfurt, London, Amsterdam, Paris and Dublin). And there is no end in sight to the boom – according to market research, the European market for data centres will triple by 2032 versus 2023.
PORR CEO Karl-Heinz Strauss also sees massive growth potential for the construction industry here. “The increasing use of cloud technologies and AI applications means growing demand for data infrastructure. PORR plays a key role here and has been proactive in shaping this infrastructure. With the projects completed so far, we have repeatedly demonstrated our comprehensive expertise as a full-service provider”.
Increasingly tough demands
The rapid growth of the data centre sector was kickstarted by the COVID-19 pandemic. It has accelerated the digital transformation, the shift to remote working, and the proliferation of online services. During this time, PORR has built up its expertise in the construction of data centres by working with global clients. It now offers a comprehensive service portfolio in this area.
“The design and build of data centres requires specialised expertise”, says Strauss. “There are special requirements for the power supply, the air conditioning and cooling systems, and, of course, the security of the stored data. Of course, the general contractor has to guarantee high quality, timeliness, and compliance with health and safety regulations”.
PORR covers the entire project life cycle in line with its “one-stop shop” approach. This includes needs assessment and planning, as well as the construction and integration of the technical systems, all the way to technical acceptance and commissioning. Expert teams work closely with clients at every stage to deliver the highest quality solutions that meet the most stringent industry standards. This is particularly important as technologies related to big data, AI and the Internet of Things (IoT) continue to evolve. Newly built data centres must therefore meet increasingly tough demands in terms of scalability and performance, as well as the technologies used in delivering them.
Focus on quality
To this end, PORR is setting new standards for efficiency, quality and collaboration. It relies on both LEAN Construction to optimise processes and on Building Information Modelling (BIM) to manage building data in every phase of a project’s life cycle.
Safety is the top priority: PORR achieved a total of almost 1.5 million completely accident-free working hours during the construction of three data centres. This has also been recognised by the clients. Vantage Data Centers, for example, has named the BER12 project “EMEA Development Project of the Year” and given it the Vision Zero Health & Safety Award.
