What is the future of data centers? It’s a compelling question — mainly because, at first glance, data center design might seem fairly fixed. After all, the basic purpose remains the same: housing IT racks that generate heat, which must be managed to maintain efficient computing performance.

But the evolution of data centers isn’t so much about overhauling the fundamental components of IT infrastructure. Instead, it’s about reimagining how those components can be configured to be more flexible, scalable, and adaptable — especially as the demand for AI-powered data centers continues to grow.

AI’s rapid advancement is expected to drive global data center storage capacity to 21.0 zettabytes by 2027 — an annual growth rate exceeding 18%. This kind of expansion is already reshaping the way future data centers will look and function, and it’s changing the skill set network engineers need to design and implement the right infrastructure. Here are a few key considerations for network engineers working to build data centers that are ready for the next wave of IT computing.

Balancing Space Utilization with the Need for High-Density Racks

The concept of high-density computing has evolved significantly in recent years — even before the rise of AI-driven workloads. Not long ago, a 10kW server rack was considered high-density. Today, thanks to rapid advances in computing technology, it's common to see racks ranging from 40kW to 125kW, with some high-density data centers exceeding 120kW per cabinet.

As a result, data center operators must focus on modular IT enclosures that offer the flexibility to meet increased power distribution and cooling demands. Rittal, a world-class manufacturer and long-standing partner of Electro-Matic, provides industry-leading solutions that help operators build agile, high-performance infrastructure — ready to tackle the demands of AI and capitalize on its full potential.

Rittal’s global expertise in industrial and IT enclosures, power distribution, and climate control makes them an essential partner in the design and deployment of future-ready data centers. Their innovation in enclosure technology ensures that data center managers can confidently meet high-density requirements without compromising efficiency or uptime.

Increasing Computing Capacity without Prolonged Downtime

Hyperscale data centers, which can span up to 100,000 square feet, are specifically designed to offer the flexibility and scalability needed to manage and store vast amounts of data. These data centers are well-suited to support AI's growing data processing demands due to their inherent adaptability.

However, a key challenge is that increasing the number of racks and servers in a data center also raises the risk of downtime, especially when specialized tooling or non-standardized hardware is required to support additional computing power.

To address this, standardized racks, server cooling units, and flexible power distribution units are essential for scaling AI workloads efficiently while minimizing the risk of downtime. Rittal's TS IT High Density enclosure offers a solution that accelerates the configuration and installation process, all while ensuring the security and durability of the enclosure.

Creating a More Sustainable Data Center that Reduces Energy Consumption

Data centers currently account for approximately 1% of global energy consumption, and this figure is expected to rise as AI computing becomes more widespread. This has led many lawmakers to consider imposing limits on the construction of new data centers.

In response, network engineers must focus on designing data centers that minimize energy consumption. One key strategy is optimizing the cooling of IT equipment. While traditional air cooling methods are still common, an increasing number of data center operators are transitioning to liquid cooling solutions, which are more capable of handling high thermal design power (TDP) requirements with greater energy efficiency.
Closed-loop liquid cooling offers significant advantages by future-proofing data centers for the demands of AI scaling, while simultaneously reducing energy use and costs in the short term. By eliminating the need for room-wide climate control, this approach directs cooling precisely where it’s needed, minimizing waste and improving overall efficiency.

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Source

The Future of Data Centers is AI. Herb Villa, February 10 2025