Data center construction: process, cost drivers and builders
Building a data center runs from land and power to commissioning, and the general contractor or EPC firm carries most of the schedule risk. Below: the phases, the cost drivers, a selection checklist and 3 construction companies that state data center or mission-critical work on their own sites. Project timelines and stalls are covered in the construction guide; costs per MW in the cost guide.
Who builds data centers, and what does the process look like?
Data centers are built by general contractors and EPC firms with mission-critical practices, working for developers, operators or hyperscalers under design-build or construction-management contracts. The process runs site selection and land preparation, power and utility agreements, design, permitting, shell and core, mechanical and electrical fit-out, commissioning (levels 1–5) and handover. Published cost-per-MW figures vary widely by market, density and scope; Coloprice cites only sourced numbers in its guides.
Construction phases
- Site selection and due diligence: power availability, fibre, water, zoning, permitting timeline.
- Utility and grid agreements: substation, interconnection queue, on-site generation where needed.
- Design and permitting: Tier target, density, cooling architecture, phasing.
- Shell, core and fit-out: civil works, structure, mechanical and electrical plant, data halls.
- Commissioning and handover: integrated systems testing, certification, ready-for-service.
What drives cost per MW
- Target density and cooling: liquid-cooled AI halls need different mechanical plant than 8 kW air-cooled rooms.
- Resilience: 2N vs. N+1 electrical and mechanical topologies.
- Grid connection: substation scope, distance and queue position often decide the timeline.
- Market labour and material costs, and whether prefabricated modules are used.
Selecting a builder
- Ask for completed mission-critical projects with MW, density and Tier targets, and reference contacts.
- Confirm the commissioning agent and levels included in the contract.
- Check self-perform capability for electrical and mechanical work in your region.
Companies offering data center construction
Recorded from each company's own website on 2026-09-26: what it states it does, where it operates and which certifications it names. Not a ranking; no company pays for inclusion. Missing companies were not yet checked.
| Company | Headquarters | Regions | Stated services | Certifications named | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mortenson | Minneapolis, USA | United States, 12 offices | Site selection and land preparation, construction, power distribution, commissioning, substation EPC, prefabrication; 11 GW completed or under construction | not stated | Mortenson — Data centers · 2026-09-26 |
| Clune Construction | Chicago, USA | Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas–Fort Worth, Los Angeles, New York, Phoenix, San Francisco, Washington DC | Mission-critical construction (sector as stated on the company site) | not stated | Clune Construction · 2026-09-26 |
| Holder Construction | Atlanta, USA | Atlanta, Charlotte, Columbus, Dallas, Denver, Phoenix, San Jose, Washington DC | General contractor listing Data & Telecom among its project categories | not stated | Holder Construction · 2026-09-26 |
See also
Weekly digest: prices, capacity and deals in one email.
FAQ
Does Coloprice provide data center construction?
No. Coloprice is an independent data portal. This page explains the service and lists companies recorded from their own websites; a brief submitted below is routed to matching providers under a disclosed referral arrangement. Rankings and the Coloprice Score are never for sale.
How were the data center construction companies selected?
Each entry was recorded from the company's own website on the date shown, capturing what it states it does, where it operates and which certifications it names. The list grows as companies are checked; absence means not yet checked.
How do I get comparable quotes for data center construction?
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