Bisnow’s Data Center Investment Conference and Expo (DICE) series consistently delivers sharp insights on the issues reshaping digital infrastructure at lightning speed. Steve Altizer, President & CEO of Compu Dynamics, has long been recognized as a leading voice in data center design and operations, continuing to share his expertise at Bisnow and other industry events.

At the most recent DICE: Southwest in Phoenix, industry leaders gathered to dissect the evolving data center landscape. Steve joined a diverse panel for “More Compute With Greater Efficiency: Maintaining Operations and Cooling Requirements as Density Increases,” where he shared insights on best practices for managing higher density, improving operational efficiency, and ensuring reliable cooling and commissioning in today’s fast-growing facilities.

Next up, Steve will be at DICE: South in Dallas for a completely new discussion: “Data Center Cooling Innovations: Preparing for the AI Era.” This session dives deep into advanced cooling technologies specifically designed to handle the heat generated by AI workloads. It’s all about pushing the envelope on how facilities can reliably and efficiently support ultra-dense AI clusters without overheating.

Let’s recap the big themes Steve covered at DICE: Southwest, and see why they set the stage for these cutting-edge innovations coming to the Dallas panel.

Retrofitting for High Density, Liquid Cooling, and Power

As data centers chase higher densities, traditional air cooling is hitting its limits. Liquid cooling is stepping up with better heat dissipation and energy efficiency — especially vital in high-density workloads. But retrofitting existing facilities isn’t plug-and-play. It requires new plumbing, system integration, robust commissioning standards, and vigilant monitoring of factors like water treatment (conductivity and pH). Strong mechanical know-how and monitoring are now table stakes to avoid costly downtime.

On the power side, demand is skyrocketing. Hyperscalers and AI players are asking for 500 MW to even gigawatts for single campuses — levels that seemed wild just a few years ago. This growth is forcing the industry to get involved early in design to future-proof facilities and avoid expensive retrofits down the line.

Workforce Development and Collaboration

With talent shortages looming, investing in workforce development is a must. Partnerships with training and certification organizations are already building the next generation of data center pros. Adaptive learning platforms are also delivering targeted, vendor-neutral training so teams can manage increasingly complex infrastructure with confidence.

Collaboration was another hot topic. Developers, utilities, and technology partners need to work in sync to meet power and cooling demands, navigate supply chain volatility, and ensure diverse fiber routes for rock-solid connectivity.

Modular Construction as a Solution

The panel also spotlighted modular construction and off-site prefabrication as game-changing strategies. These approaches accelerate deployment, improve quality, and reduce on-site labor. Off-site prefabrication streamlines procurement and construction, making it a go-to option for developers. As the industry grapples with power, cooling, and operational constraints, these innovations will be crucial for building a more efficient and scalable future.

Join Steve Altizer at DICE: South in Dallas