Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation
If the 19th century was the century of the railway, Compass Datacenters believes that the 21st century will be dominated by the data center. Like the railway, data centers are a form of infrastructure, one that is becoming increasingly crucial to everyday life.
To mitigate the environmental impact of these energy-hungry structures as much as possible, Compass builds its data centers differently, using modular, more sustainable construction.
“We build data center campuses that are designed to last for generations,” says Chris Crosby, Compass Datacenters CEO. “We use off-site manufacturing, eliminating waste along the way, and have sustainability built in from the get-go.”
Based in Dallas, Texas, and founded in 2011, Compass has 15 operational data centers and 14 sites in development across North America, Europe, and the Middle East.
The company builds its sites specifically for cloud and hyperscale data center customers. These clients require large-scale storage and computing infrastructure to meet the higher demands of AI, machine learning, and big data analytics.
The essential infrastructure for Compass data centers is supplied by trusted partners such as Schneider Electric and Vertiv, which provide the components and cooling technology respectively.
At Compass’s Hoffman Estates project in Illinois, the company is transforming a 273-acre site that was formerly the headquarters of US department store Sears. Compass selected the site for its proximity to Chicago, where digital infrastructure is in high demand.
Furthermore, it is a brownfield site with great potential for creating a data center for the long term that can be developed responsibly and sustainably. For example, the company is recycling 95% of existing structures rather than simply clearing the land.
Typically, data centers can take up to two years to build from scratch, but here the use of prefabricated components means Compass can rapidly accelerate elements of the construction process such as the crucial dry-in (waterproofing) stage.
Compass focuses on SDG 9, which aims to build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and foster innovation.
Compass aims to build responsibly. Over 70% of components are manufactured off site to lower the environmental impact of construction. In addition, the company uses products with long lifespans and applies intelligent materials science.
“We have successfully reduced our cement content by using concrete AI. This allows us to study raw materials and the strength needs, and have the same performance with less cement,” says Nancy Novak, Chief Innovation Officer at Compass.
Learn how Compass Datacenters designs and builds innovative data campuses, using prefabrication and modern manufacturing to accelerate delivery and drive sustainable efficiency at scale
