Building or retrofitting a data centre today comes with real challenges – from artificial intelligence’s (AI) growing power needs to evolving technology, technical complexity and construction logistics. These challenges affect both greenfield developments and modernisation of existing facilities equally. Whether building from the ground up or installing new cooling systems in operational facilities, getting the technical details and planning right prevents costly downtime, delays and security issues. Someone who specialises in these projects can provide essential expertise when you need it most.

The right project manager (PM) understands what makes data centre construction unique – from power requirements to cooling specifications – helping eliminate headaches around these complexities and preventing costly system downtime and delays. Here are six ways one can deliver real value to your next construction project.

Modern data centre requirements have driven up data centre costs. While hiring a PM might seem like an unnecessary expense, it's actually a smart investment. According to the Project Management Institute, poor project delivery wastes US$1 million every 20 seconds.

An experienced PM brings critical expertise whether evaluating greenfield sites – assessing power availability, connectivity, permitting and expansion potential – or managing retrofit projects with their operational constraints, phased implementation strategies, and integration challenges. Whether you're constructing new facilities or upgrading existing infrastructure, they help you make informed decisions at crucial moments.

PMs also save your most valuable resource: time. A good PM handles daily project needs from start to finish, freeing IT leadership to focus on core responsibilities while ensuring deadlines are met through effective coordination and proactive planning.

A PM serves as the first line of defense against potential setbacks. Every data centre project has a certain amount of risk, but should a problem threaten to derail a project, a good PM develops a clear plan to resolve it or, at least, mitigate critical impacts.

Risk mitigation in project management is not just about pointing out issues but also making smart plans to overcome difficulties. In addition to their subject matter expertise, PMs use specialised tools and technology to handle risk management smoothly. One example is Ingenious Build, JLL's project management tool that all team members can collaborate effectively from project start to completion.

These project management tools follow established processes and templates to ensure project success while maintaining quality standards and controlling costs. PMs use such technology to make better choices based on actual data. With all the information in one place, they can see how things are progressing in real time, helping them keep tasks on schedule and budgets under control.

Various factors can undermine the success of a data centre project, particularly challenges related to timeline and budget management. However, one common culprit responsible for these setbacks is scope creep: when a project’s scope gradually expands beyond its original objectives. Effective project management practices require maintaining control over project flow and ensuring team members adhere to the original scope of work.

This principle applies equally to new construction projects and retrofit initiatives, each presenting unique scope management challenges. Maintaining project scope prevents unnecessary changes and improves outcomes while ensuring power, cooling and connectivity requirements are met.

A PM's commitment to quality drives project success. Managing data centre projects effectively means more than meeting basic requirements – it also involves solving complex problems, anticipating challenges and exceeding expectations while aligning with original goals. Quality control ensures the facility meets reliability, security and operational benchmarks. Good PMs conduct regular quality checks to address issues early.

Even after completion, the PM's work continues with a final quality evaluation. This assessment confirms whether the project met all technical criteria, redundancy requirements, cooling capacity, security features and client satisfaction standards. The insights from this review should help improve future projects and quality processes.

For data centre operators with sustainability and energy goals, a skilled PM delivers maximum impact toward your organisation's targets. Energy-efficient designs, renewable energy integration, advanced cooling systems, and waste reduction strategies work together to decrease energy dependence while improving operational efficiency.

By incorporating green building standards like LEED certification, a PM can lower your data centre's environmental footprint and generate long-term cost savings through reduced energy consumption. This is particularly important because data centres rank among the most energy-intensive facilities.

An expert PM knows that there is no one-size-fits-all answer in data centre development. They roll up their sleeves, tailoring approaches to meet each client's specific needs and wants. With a finger on a project's pulse, they quickly adjust course as needs change, ensuring the project always hits the mark. Their skills bring value far beyond the immediate fiscal outcomes as they improve time efficiency, cost management and risk reduction.

Our 8,500 project management professionals have delivered more than 35,000 projects worldwide. We’ve handled large-scale, complex data centre projects in many diverse markets. We’ve also helped clients save more than US$300M on energy costs by improving how their data centres run and cutting everyday expenses.

From managing critical phases like greenfield construction and complex retrofits to navigating diverse markets worldwide, our PMs ensure your data centre projects are delivered on time and on budget while meeting both local compliance standards and global corporate objectives.

Hiring a PM isn't simply filling a position; it's an investment in your data centre's lasting success. Contact our experts to learn how our experienced project management professionals can help deliver your new build or retrofit project on time, on budget, and to your exact specifications.