7:00 am Registration & Networking
8:00 am Chair’s Opening Remarks
Unlocking Opportunity in the Midwest
8:10 am Owner Panel: Navigating the Shift into Midwestern Markets to Align Industry Capacity & Prepare for Future Growth
Synopsis
- Understanding what makes specific Midwest regions attractive to owners – from established hyperscale hubs like Chicago, to rising colocation markets such as Omaha, Des Moines, and Minneapolis
- Understanding the key drivers behind client site selection across these markets
- Exploring how shifting hyperscaler investment strategies are impacting current market activity and future Midwest demand cycles: What will be the resulting challenges and opportunities for the next five years?
8:50 am Achieving Community Alignment to Mitigate Unforeseen Delays in Data Center Builds
Synopsis
- Effectively educating and aligning local officials who may lack experience with data center requirements, and taking a collaborative approach to streamline approvals
- Utilizing internal teams or consultants to lead effective community outreach and position the project as a valuable local asset
- Evaluating the design compromises that can help enhance community buy in, from zoning requirements to alternative equipment
10:00 am Morning Refreshments & Speed Networking
Accelerating Project Delivery
10:40 am Fireside Chat: Working with Utilities to Overcome Power Connectivity Constraints & Accelerate Development Timelines
Synopsis
- Understanding how utility companies prioritize power allocation between hyperscalers and municipalities to gain clearer visibility into utility planning and constraints
- Exploring the role of temporary power solutions and understanding if utilities viewing these as viable supplements or competitors
- Understanding how utilities are anticipating and addressing the 3–5 year growth in power demand fueled by AI and digital infrastructure
11:20 am Navigating Early Engagement with Various Authorities to Expedite Permitting
Synopsis
- Navigating entitlements and data centers as a permitted use in zoning codes
- Exploring how you can navigate projects that cross jurisdictions, such as transportation and environmental jurisdictions
- Working with experienced local legal counsel, third-party inspectors, or permitting consultants to uncover hidden requirements in the midwest vs. coastal regions
12:00 pm Audience Discussion: Building a Reliable Trade Partner Pipeline to Strengthen Project Delivery in High- Demand & Labor-Constrained Markets
Synopsis
- Exploring what questions to ask to assess a trade partner’s ability to scale to large, complex jobs: What are the red flags to watch out for during early conversations and site visits?
- Understanding how project teams can adapt prequalification processes and partner with local industry groups or unions to help find new partners
- Building trust with local trades new to data center construction to help scale the total labor force and support their entry into a new market
12:30 pm Networking Lunch
Harnessing High-Efficiency Energy Solutions
1:30 pm Managing the Design & Construction Implications of Liquid Cooling for AI-Scale Data Centers
Synopsis
- Understanding performance, density, and power efficiency benefits driving the transition from air to liquid
- Addressing challenges of material compatibility, installation sequencing, and coordination with trades to ensure adaptability for future upgrades
- Exploring how liquid cooling reshapes MEP commissioning protocols and drives deeper integration with facility monitoring systems
2:10 pm Exploring Alternative Power Solutions: SMRs, RNG, Hydrogen, Gas & Renewables to Unlock Energy Resilience & Flexibility
Synopsis
- Reviewing how SMRs eliminate dependence on existing grid infrastructure and can enable data center development in remote regions
- Understanding current regulatory hurdles and political constraints surrounding SMR adoption: When are SMRs expected to become commercially viable for private development?
- Establishing what design teams need to consider in terms of cooling, safety, and energy management for SMR-powered facilities
3:20 pm Afternoon Refreshments & Networking
Streamlining the Design Phase
3:50 pm Audience Discussion: Mitigating the Impact of Harsh Winters in Early Project Planning for On-Time Delivery
Synopsis
- Exploring design adaptations required for more moderate climate conditions – from the different HVAC and envelope systems, to structural material choices
- Building schedules strategically around freeze cycles to complete underground work and foundations before ground conditions become restrictive
- Discussing the inclusion of winter protection allowances such as force majeure clauses in contracts and budgeting contingency for labor inefficiencies
4:20 pm Coordinating the Inclusion of Owner-Furnished Equipment to Ensure Seamless Product Integration
Synopsis
- Ensuring owner-furnished equipment integrates well with contractor-furnished systems or infrastructure
- Adapting to last-minute specification changes and substitutions or updates provided by the owner
- Clarifying who is responsible for damage, delays, or installation issues and how to coordinate these incidences effectively onsite