Connecting the Data Centre Design, Construction, & Supply Chain Ecosystem

11-12 October 2027

Data Centre Design & Build Forum is a one-and-a-half-day open forum held within the exhibition area, free to all summit and exhibition visitors. Dedicated to connecting the data centre design, construction and supply chain ecosystem, the forum brings together data centre developers, operators, architects, engineering consultants, EPC contractors, construction firms, equipment manufacturers and technology providers.

Covering innovative design, modular construction, critical power and cooling systems, building materials, physical security, fire protection and digital construction technologies, the forum showcases practical solutions to accelerate project delivery, improve efficiency and support sustainable development.

Through expert presentations, technology showcases and industry networking, the forum provides a platform for project owners, contractors, procurement leaders and suppliers to exchange insights, explore solutions and build commercial partnerships.

Oct 11 Design & Build

14:00 - 14:10

(10 mins)

Chair Welcome

14:10 - 14:50
(40mins)

[Opening Operators’ Panel] Building for AI Density: What Operators Need from the Next Generation of Construction

How 100–150+ kW racks and 1,000+ kg cabinets are reshaping slab design, floor loading, building height and campus layout
Where operators want standardised, repeatable designs and where they still need customisation by site and customer
How designs stay ready for the next GPU generation, 800V DC power and liquid cooling without rebuilding the shell

14:50 - 15:10
(20mins)

[Reserved for Sponsor]

15:10 - 15:50
(40mins)

[Prefab & Modular Panel] Factory-Built Data Centres: Prefabrication, Modular Systems and Speed to Site

How prefabricated power skids, modular data halls and cooling modules are cutting on-site build time and labour
How factory testing and integrated delivery reduce commissioning risk and late-stage rework
How logistics, transport limits and site interfaces shape what can be prefabricated at gigawatt scale

15:50 - 16:10
(20mins)

[Reserved for Sponsor]

Coffee Break & Networking

16:10 - 16:50
(40mins)

[Retrofit Panel] The Second Life Opportunity: Retrofitting Existing Facilities for AI

How structural reinforcement and new floor strategies let legacy halls carry heavier AI racks
How liquid cooling, CDUs and higher-capacity power distribution can be added in live facilities without downtime
How owners weigh retrofit against rebuild, using existing grid connections and permits as a head start

16:50 - 17:00

(20 mins)

Chair Closing

Oct 12 Materials, Systems & Delivery

09:00 - 09:10

(10 mins)

Chair Welcome

09:10 - 09:50
(40mins)

[Low-Carbon Materials Panel] Building with Less Carbon: Low-Carbon Concrete, Steel and Timber for Data Centres

How low-carbon cement, concrete and steel are moving from pilots into standard data centre specifications
How embodied carbon is being measured, reported and written into procurement, from EPDs to customer and investor requirements
Where hybrid timber structures, recycled materials and design optimisation cut embodied carbon without adding cost or delay

09:50 - 10:30
(40mins)

[Electrical Systems Panel] Power Inside the Fence: Switchgear, Transformers, Busway and Backup Beyond Diesel

How 800V DC, higher-voltage distribution and new busway designs are simplifying the power chain to the rack
How SF6-free switchgear, standardised transformers and framework agreements are easing lead times and compliance
How batteries, HVO and fuel cells are replacing or reducing diesel backup at AI scale

10:30 - 10:50
(20mins)

[Reserved for Sponsor]

10:50 - 11:30
(40mins)

[Cooling Panel] Cooling as Energy Strategy The Cheapest Megawatt Is the One You Don’t Need

How liquid cooling and smarter thermal design free up power for compute
How cooling choices balance energy, water and climate across European sites
How heat reuse turns a cost into a local energy asset, in line with Germany’s Energy Efficiency Act targets

11:30 - 11:50
(20mins)

[Reserved for Sponsor]

11:50 - 12:30
(40mins)

[Security & Safety Panel] Secure and Safe by Design: Physical Security, Access Control and Fire Protection

How layered physical security, from perimeter and building access to rack-level locks, is being designed in from day one
How NIS2 and the EU Critical Entities Resilience Directive are raising security requirements for data centres as critical infrastructure
How fire protection is adapting to lithium-ion batteries, higher densities and liquid-cooled halls

Luncheon

14:00 - 14:40
(40mins)

[Onsite Power Design Panel] Designing for Onsite Power: Gas, Fuel Cells and SMR-Ready Sites

How onsite gas engines, turbines and fuel cells change site layout, fuel storage, setbacks and permitting
How hydrogen-ready and carbon capture-ready designs can be built in from day one
What developers should reserve today, from land and cooling water to grid interfaces, to keep a campus SMR-ready

14:50 - 15:10

(20 mins)

[Reserved for Sponsor]

15:10 - 15:50
(40mins)

[Digital Delivery & Fit-Out Panel] From BIM to Handover: Digital Delivery, White-Space Fit-Out and Commissioning

How BIM, digital twins and AI-assisted planning are catching clashes and cutting rework before construction starts
How racks, containment, cabling and fibre are being specified for AI clusters and faster white-space fit-out
How integrated commissioning and digital handover give operators a reliable facility from day one

15:50 - 16:30
(40mins)

[Closing Panel] From Design to Delivery: Cost, Supply Chain and Skilled Labour

How next-gen power, cooling and materials choices change cost per MW and total cost of ownership
How framework agreements, early procurement and supplier partnerships secure long-lead equipment
How contractors are growing skilled labour and keeping sites safe as Europe’s build pipeline accelerates

16:30 - 16:40

(20 mins)

Oct 11 Design & Build

Chair Welcome

[Opening Operators’ Panel] Building for AI Density: What Operators Need from the Next Generation of Construction

How 100–150+ kW racks and 1,000+ kg cabinets are reshaping slab design, floor loading, building height and campus layout

Where operators want standardised, repeatable designs and where they still need customisation by site and customer

How designs stay ready for the next GPU generation, 800V DC power and liquid cooling without rebuilding the shell

[Reserved for Sponsor]

[Prefab & Modular Panel] Factory-Built Data Centres: Prefabrication, Modular Systems and Speed to Site

How prefabricated power skids, modular data halls and cooling modules are cutting on-site build time and labour

How factory testing and integrated delivery reduce commissioning risk and late-stage rework

How logistics, transport limits and site interfaces shape what can be prefabricated at gigawatt scale

[Reserved for Sponsor]

Coffee Break & Networking

[Retrofit Panel] The Second Life Opportunity: Retrofitting Existing Facilities for AI

How structural reinforcement and new floor strategies let legacy halls carry heavier AI racks

How liquid cooling, CDUs and higher-capacity power distribution can be added in live facilities without downtime

How owners weigh retrofit against rebuild, using existing grid connections and permits as a head start

Chair Closing

Oct 12 Materials, Systems & Delivery

Chair Welcome

[Low-Carbon Materials Panel] Building with Less Carbon: Low-Carbon Concrete, Steel and Timber for Data Centres

How low-carbon cement, concrete and steel are moving from pilots into standard data centre specifications

How embodied carbon is being measured, reported and written into procurement, from EPDs to customer and investor requirements

Where hybrid timber structures, recycled materials and design optimisation cut embodied carbon without adding cost or delay

[Electrical Systems Panel] Power Inside the Fence: Switchgear, Transformers, Busway and Backup Beyond Diesel

How 800V DC, higher-voltage distribution and new busway designs are simplifying the power chain to the rack

How SF6-free switchgear, standardised transformers and framework agreements are easing lead times and compliance

How batteries, HVO and fuel cells are replacing or reducing diesel backup at AI scale

[Reserved for Sponsor]

[Cooling Panel] Cooling as Energy Strategy The Cheapest Megawatt Is the One You Don’t Need

How liquid cooling and smarter thermal design free up power for compute

How cooling choices balance energy, water and climate across European sites

How heat reuse turns a cost into a local energy asset, in line with Germany’s Energy Efficiency Act targets

[Reserved for Sponsor]

[Security & Safety Panel] Secure and Safe by Design: Physical Security, Access Control and Fire Protection

How layered physical security, from perimeter and building access to rack-level locks, is being designed in from day one

How NIS2 and the EU Critical Entities Resilience Directive are raising security requirements for data centres as critical infrastructure

How fire protection is adapting to lithium-ion batteries, higher densities and liquid-cooled halls

Luncheon

[Onsite Power Design Panel] Designing for Onsite Power: Gas, Fuel Cells and SMR-Ready Sites

How onsite gas engines, turbines and fuel cells change site layout, fuel storage, setbacks and permitting

How hydrogen-ready and carbon capture-ready designs can be built in from day one

What developers should reserve today, from land and cooling water to grid interfaces, to keep a campus SMR-ready

[Reserved for Sponsor]

[Digital Delivery & Fit-Out Panel] From BIM to Handover: Digital Delivery, White-Space Fit-Out and Commissioning

How BIM, digital twins and AI-assisted planning are catching clashes and cutting rework before construction starts

How racks, containment, cabling and fibre are being specified for AI clusters and faster white-space fit-out

How integrated commissioning and digital handover give operators a reliable facility from day one

[Closing Panel] From Design to Delivery: Cost, Supply Chain and Skilled Labour

How next-gen power, cooling and materials choices change cost per MW and total cost of ownership

How framework agreements, early procurement and supplier partnerships secure long-lead equipment

How contractors are growing skilled labour and keeping sites safe as Europe’s build pipeline accelerates

Chair's Closing

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11-12 October 2027 Frankfurt, Germany #DCEWorld2027

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11-12 October 2027
Frankfurt, Germany
#DCEWorld2027