Top 10: Data Centre Consultants

In the rapidly evolving data centre industry, the expertise of leading consultants is critical for designing, constructing and managing facilities that meet the evolving demands of today’s digital economy. 

The top players featured here are known internationally for their innovative architectural solutions, sustainable construction practices, comprehensive cost and project management services, cutting-edge engineering, unparalleled advisory services, strategic site selection and operational excellence. 

Together, these firms are shaping the future of data centre infrastructure worldwide.

10. WSP Global

• Revenue: US$10bn
• Number of Employees: 66,500
• CEO: Alexandre L'Heureux
• Founded: 1959

The Montreal-based professional services company WSP Global imagines a better future for us all. Working across construction management, design, engineering, strategic consulting, operations and maintenance, WSP runs a critical national infrastructure to defence and of course, data centres which need to maintain their operations 24/7. WSP is up to the task.

Data Centre magazine previously explored a report commissioned by Microsoft and conducted by WSP, into the energy efficiency of Microsoft Cloud services over traditional enterprise data centres.

9. Syska Hennessy Group 

• Revenue: US$110m
• Number of Employees: 500
• CEO: Cyrus Izzo 
• Founded: 1928

Syska Hennessy Group is more than a consulting engineering firm. Over the past century from its office in New York, the company champions design with a goal to improve lives across the world. Syska Hennessy Group combines its expertise with next generation technology tools and provides high performance engineering, consulting and commissioning solutions for the built environment. The company was ranked in ENR's Top 500 Design Firms Sourcebook as the #1 data centre designer, known for its collaborative approach.

8. Corgan

• Revenue: US$331m
• Number of Employees: 900
• CEO: Scott Ruch
• Founded: 1938

Architecture and design firm Corgan is an expert in research, user experience and design. This allows the company to anticipate new trends and offer solutions that lower risks and increase flexibility. Corgan is a leader in six market sectors: Aviation, commercial, education, healthcare, interiors - and data centres. Headquartered in Dallas, Corgan has a deep range of resources for each sector and offers a unique set of strengths to the table and a shared passion (alongside its expertise for user-driven design).

7. Red Engineering

• Revenue: £62m / US$78m
• Number of Employees: 850
• CEO: Martin Sieh
• Founded: 2004

With almost two decades of experience, Red Engineering is a specialist building service which uses its technical understanding to support the world’s digital infrastructure. The company assists clients in their vision for a zero carbon built environment and provides commercially viable ideas for low carbon solutions. While Red’s goal is to help global clients reach their sustainable transformation ambitions, its proficiency is in building smart buildings and digital infrastructure for data centre clients, among others.

6. Turner & Townsend

• Revenue: US$1.3bn
• Number of Employees: 12,000
• CEO: Vincent Clancy
• Founded: 1946

Turner is a leading construction company and among the biggest domestic contractors in the US. The company has an active presence in 49 countries, completing 1,500 projects each year by delivering building projects of all types and sizes, such as schools, hospitals, stadiums, museums, airports and data centres. Turner and Townsend delivers programme management, cost and commercial management, as well as net zero and digital solutions, creating a positive impact on the world. It is a majority-owned by CBRE Group. Turner & Townsend and CBRE work together to provide clients with the best cost management offering in markets around the world.

5. Arup

• Revenue: US$2.5m
• Number of Employees: 17,200 
• CEO: Alan Belfield 
• Founded: 1946

Arup’s data centre and mission critical experts are pioneers in technological facilities, supporting data driven businesses to meet modern data needs. Arup has a reputation for top-tier engineering and consulting services for the data centre sector, as well as a range of other infrastructure and construction initiatives. Arup has regional consultants based across the world, from its base in London to the Americas, Australasia, the Middle East, Africa and East Asia, as well as the rest of Europe.

4. CBRE

• Revenue: US$31bn
• Number of Employees: 130,000 
• CEO: Bob Sulentic
• Founded: 1906

CBRE Group is a Fortune 500 and S&P 500 company based in Dallas. It is the world’s largest commercial real estate services and investment firm, serving clients in over 100 countries. CBRE serves a wide range of clients with a range of services, including property management, investment management, property sales and development services. CBRE research explores the data centre opportunities for enterprises in the wave of AI and machine learning technology development.

3. AECOM

• Revenue: US$11bn
• Number of Employees: 51,000 
• CEO: Troy Rudd
• Founded: 1990

Another Dallas-based civil engineering firm is AECOM. As one of the world’s most trusted infrastructure consulting firms, AECOM delivers professional services ranging from advisory, to planning, design and engineering to programme and construction management. The company is also strongly committed to its environmental, social and governance priorities. AECOM is a Fortune 500 firm and also has experience in the development and design of hydropower and dam projects, providing integrated planning, feasibility, design, environmental studies, and other services to its global hydropower clients.

2. Jacobs Engineering Group

• Revenue: US$16bn
• Number of Employees: 60,000
• CEO: Bob Pragada
• Founded: 1947

Jacobs is an American international technical professional services firm which offers engineering, technical, professional and construction services, in addition to scientific consulting for a range of clients across the world. 

The company is a global leader in providing integrated planning, architecture, engineering, project and construction management and commissioning for data centre facilities. It was recently ranked #1 Data Center Design Firm and #1 Data Center Engineering Firm (Building Design + Construction).

“With our rapid shift to virtualisation during the past year, data centres are even more critical to how we work and live,” said Koti Vadlamudi, Jacobs’ Senior Vice President and General Manager, Advanced Facilities. “Jacobs’ global team works across six continents to deliver projects for some of the world’s largest data centre providers often under crucial time constraints. Our team of subject matter experts is also addressing critical challenges for the industry like sustainability and carbon neutrality, driving innovation around renewable power and water technologies for many of our clients.”

1. Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL)

• Revenue: US$20bn
• Number of Employees: 106,000
• CEO: Christian Ulbrich
• Founded: 1783

Chicago-based real estate giant JLL is using technology to shape the future - especially in regards to the potential of data centres. JLL’s new EMEA data centre report has found that in 2023, there will be a 16% increase in data centre supply. With 467MW added to Europe’s core markets of Frankfurt, London, Amsterdam, Paris and Dublin (FLAPD), the report highlighted how strong data centre demand is shifting towards new markets across Europe.

“In a world increasingly fuelled by the internet, data and AI, demand will continue to rise for real estate to make it all happen,” said Tom Glover, Head of Data Centre Transactions, EMEA at JLL. “We saw record levels of take up, demand and preleasing for data centres in 2023, and expect 2024 to be another staggering year for activity in the sector.” 

The company is also investigating sustainable solutions in its work with local communities.

To see the article in the magazine, READ HERE.

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