The biggest data center in the world, in Langfang, China, is 6.3 million square feet — almost as big as the Pentagon. Your company may not need a data center solution for something that enormous, but every serious business need data center solutions when they reach a certain size.

Constructing a new data center is far from a simple task, however. Besides finding the best company to provide data center construction services, there’s a lot of planning and coordination required beforehand.

Fortunately, this article will help simplify data center construction. From initial concept to finished data center installation, here are four things to keep in mind as you construct a new data center for your company.

Assess Business Needs

Before you make any significant change to your business operations, you will need to have a comprehensive evaluation performed of your current systems and areas for growth. Along with this, it is critical to understand the unique needs your business will have as it goes forward. This step will require that you understand the role of IT within your organization. From there, you can determine how your IT infrastructure, including your data center, supports your corporate goals.

Prioritize Function Over Form

This is one of the most important things to keep in mind while you plan your data center construction: having a robust, secure, and effective data center that’s capable of growing with your company should be your first priority. How your data center looks from the outside is unimportant by comparison. This means everything, from the location you choose to the equipment you install to the architecture, should be in service to having a data center that is more reliable, available, and efficient. Having a data center that looks nice is a great bonus but should not drive the process.

Choose the Site Wisely

If you’re building a data center from the ground up, choosing the ideal location is key. Many data centers are built in rural deserts, because the risk of natural disasters (such as flooding) are far lower. Vandalism and robbery are also less likely to be a problem in remote areas, although this comes with the trade-off of being farther away from critical emergency services. This isn’t to say you can’t build a data center in a city or a flood plain, but you will need to take special precautions if you do.  Connectivity and available power from the local utility are frequently the pain points when selecting a new site.

Involve Staff in Planning and Construction

Perhaps the best thing a company can do when it expands a given department is to get the input of employees actually working there. Even if you hire the best data center consultants in the world to design and install your center, at the end of the day, your IT professionals will be the ones working with the new equipment. Make sure they have a voice in the decisions you make, especially when you’re defining your company’s needs.

When you look for data center installation services, look no further than LDP. With more than 150 years of combined experience, we’re prepared and ready to assist you in all phases of construction. Our Data Center Architects will review your site selection and offer best practice advice. Sign up for a consultation now to have one of our experts visit your facility!