Audience Discussion: Transforming Cross-Team Collaboration Across Midwest Data Center Projects to Reduce Rework & Drive Smarter Project Decision-Making

  • Examining how Midwest-specific permitting processes, utility requirements, and municipal review cycles can amplify misalignment as project intent moves from owner to designer to contractor – where do hand-offs most commonly break down?
  • Identifying how early contractor involvement can improve clarity, reduce translation errors, and align design intent with constructability from the start in fast-moving, multi-market programs
  • Evaluating different contract structures used across Midwest states that distribute early-stage risk and examining how each may shape team behavior under extreme speed-to-market pressure
  • Clarifying decision timelines and approval pathways so each project partner knows exactly when information will be locked, preventing late-stage changes that destabilize sequencing across geographically dispersed teams