Dr. Charles Nmai
Master Builders Solutions US & Canada
Introduction
As the demand for data centers continues to grow, so does the need for sustainable concrete solutions that balance cost, construction schedule and global warming potential (GWP) reduction potential. These large-scale structures require contractor-friendly concrete for fast construction, and our innovative admixtures and know-how help to optimize concrete and grout mixtures for the foundation, the structure, and site paving, enabling 30% or more reduction in carbon footprint. In short, our sustainable concrete solutions facilitate the construction of durable, resilient data centers.
Foundations: Strength from the Ground Up
A data center’s structural performance begins below grade. When foundational concrete is engineered for stability and resilience, it allows faster construction of the above-grade structure.
Solutions for ground improvement, footings, mats, diaphragm walls, and piling systems can accelerate schedules by improving soil interaction, enhancing water resistance, and extending working time for large concrete placements. By building durability into the earliest stages of construction, projects are better positioned to stay on track—and stand the test of time.
Structures: Speed, Safety, and Performance
Concrete plays a key role in the construction of a data center’s frame, walls and slabs. Whether it’s precast concrete or tilt-up concrete, our innovative admixtures and know-how help to optimize the high-performance concrete mixtures required to meet a demanding schedule, by improving placeability and finishability, while enabling faster early strength development with carbon footprint reductions of 30% or more. In addition, for slabs-on-ground or composite steel-deck slabs, fiber reinforcement technologies make it possible to reduce, if not eliminate, steel reinforcement.
With the right solutions, structural concrete becomes a tool for speed, safety, and sustainability all at once.
Site Paving: Performance at the Surface
Outside the facility, concrete plays an equally vital role in how a data center functions and fits into its environment.
Site paving for roadways, parking areas, and walkways can be optimized to withstand heavy use and harsh weather—all while supporting sustainable stormwater strategies through pervious systems, where desired, and enhancing site aesthetics.
Moving Toward What’s Next
The challenges of data center construction are real, but so are the opportunities. With concrete solutions that emphasize speed, durability, and carbon reduction, it’s possible to build better infrastructure for a digital-first world.
At Master Builders Solutions, we believe that concrete is essential to high-performance construction, and we’re committed to supporting the projects shaping tomorrow’s built environment.