A BLUEPRINT FOR FLEXIBILITY AND EFFICIENCY

Andre Korkomaz, Operations Director at Elegancia Data Center, reveals how designing for change, modularity, and operational foresight is turning data centres into resilient and energy-efficient powerhouses

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As data centre construction accelerates, operators and designers face a daunting reality: building facilities for a world that is evolving faster than construction timelines allow. Technology is advancing at breakneck speed, with artificial intelligence workloads, hyperscale demands and innovative cooling solutions reshaping the landscape. Andre Korkomaz, Operations Director at Elegancia Data Center, sheds light on how his team navigates these challenges, ensuring that the region's data centres remain efficient, resilient, and future-ready.

Understanding the scale of change

Designing for change begins with understanding the sheer magnitude of technological evolution. Korkomaz explains that while construction timelines remain relatively slow, the demands on data centres are soaring. “Twenty years ago, the average rack capacity was around 10 kilowatts per user,” he says. “Today, it’s between 130 and 150 kilowatts, and by 2026, it could reach 600 kilowatts. That’s a huge shift.”

This growth has transformed the very anatomy of data centres. Where once 80% of a facility was white space for IT equipment and 20% technical space for power and cooling, the ratio is rapidly reversing. In AI-driven facilities, mechanical and electrical rooms now dominate, fundamentally altering design priorities. Korkomaz emphasises that operators and designers must adapt, ensuring layouts accommodate not only current requirements but also future expansions.

“The so-called white space is no longer just for IT,” he adds. “It has become a real mechanical and electrical room. This shift significantly affects how we approach design and construction.”

The challenges of onsite operations