Powering Hyperscale Growth: A Design-Centric Data Center Transformation

When T5 Data Centers acquired a former big-box warehouse in the Chicagoland area, they faced a unique challenge: how to turn a standard industrial building into a next-generation hyperscale-ready data center. The result is a powerful example of what can be achieved when design, engineering, and flexibility are prioritized from day one.

The original goal was ambitious but focused: transform the 164,000 sq. ft. space into a 17MW data center, with 8MW available immediately. But when a hyperscale client came on board with rapidly expanding demand, the project shifted. T5 had to scale the facility to 30MW – and do it fast. 

The success of this transformation was rooted in a design philosophy that valued flexibility and foresight. The facility was reimagined to support up to 122,000 sq. ft. of high-density data halls, with 70,000 sq. ft. of shell space intentionally left for future build out – allowing expansion without interrupting live operations.

Vertical space was maximized with the addition of a mezzanine to house non-client equipment. This freed up floor space for high-density racks and made room for infrastructure upgrades such as power distribution units and air-cooled systems. The decision to implement air cooling, rather than more traditional water-based systems, aligned with the hyperscale client’s sustainability and operational goals, and required thoughtful reengineering of the facility’s thermal design.

The design team also planned for flexibility in the networking infrastructure. Diverse fiber entry points were incorporated to ensure redundancy, meeting the client’s strict requirements for uptime and high-capacity connectivity. Additionally, security protocols were upgraded to meet SLA commitments and regulatory compliance needs, which is especially critical for clients in finance and hyperscale sectors.

Importantly, the human element wasn’t overlooked. Office spaces were designed not just for functionality, but to reflect the client’s brand and create a sophisticated, welcoming environment. The facility became a place that clients could take pride in; not just a data warehouse, but a business partner’s headquarters for digital growth.

Through comprehensive architectural services from initial programming to construction administration, T5 turned a standard warehouse into a modern data ecosystem. It is now a facility that not only handles today’s demand but is built to evolve with the technology and business requirements of tomorrow.

T5’s construction expertise is rooted in deep experience within live environments and a commitment to managing risk without compromising quality or timelines. With an owner’s mindset, T5 focuses on customer goals and thinks creatively to meet specific project requirements.

This project is just one example. T5 also offers project management, commissioning, QA/QC, equipment procurement, owner’s representation, and preconstruction consulting—with over $400M in MEP equipment successfully procured and more than 200 data center projects completed nationwide.

Design-led thinking enables facilities to scale with client needs—without sacrificing architectural integrity or operational excellence.

Discover how design can support your operations and scalability here.