Course Introduction
Data center projects are highly complex capital and technology initiatives that combine buildings, power systems, cooling infrastructure, networks, security systems, information technology, automation, and operational processes within tightly controlled environments. The Data Center Project Planning and Delivery Course provides project professionals with a structured framework for planning, coordinating, executing, monitoring, commissioning, and delivering data center projects. Participants examine how technical requirements can be translated into integrated project scope, schedules, budgets, resources, procurement strategies, risks, quality controls, and delivery milestones.
The course explores the complete data center project lifecycle, from business requirements and site selection through concept development, design, procurement, construction, technology installation, testing, commissioning, handover, and operational readiness. Participants learn how to coordinate multidisciplinary workstreams involving civil and structural works, electrical systems, mechanical and cooling systems, fire protection, physical security, telecommunications, networking, controls, monitoring, and IT infrastructure. Emphasis is placed on managing interfaces between disciplines and maintaining alignment between design intent, construction activities, technology requirements, and operational objectives.
Data center delivery requires rigorous planning because availability, resilience, capacity, energy efficiency, maintainability, and security requirements can significantly influence project design and execution. Participants examine concepts such as redundancy, resilience, capacity planning, maintainability, modularity, scalability, power distribution, cooling strategies, backup systems, monitoring, and operational continuity. The course also addresses how project teams can translate these requirements into measurable deliverables, acceptance criteria, testing procedures, commissioning plans, and operational readiness requirements.
A major focus is on integrated project controls for data center delivery. Participants learn how to develop detailed work breakdown structures, integrated master schedules, procurement schedules, equipment delivery plans, installation sequences, commissioning milestones, and cost control structures. The course examines critical-path management, long-lead equipment, supply-chain risks, design changes, construction progress, quality assurance, subcontractor coordination, material tracking, and schedule recovery. Participants also explore how digital project management platforms, BIM, common data environments, dashboards, reality capture, and advanced analytics can improve project visibility and control.
Data center projects face significant cybersecurity, safety, environmental, supply-chain, regulatory, and operational risks. The course therefore incorporates risk identification, risk allocation, quality management, cybersecurity, physical security, energy efficiency, environmental considerations, regulatory compliance, vendor management, and business continuity. Participants examine how to establish governance frameworks and assurance processes that support reliable delivery while managing technical complexity and stakeholder expectations. Special attention is given to testing, integrated systems verification, commissioning, failure-mode scenarios, and evidence-based acceptance.
The course also addresses the evolution of data centers toward intelligent, sustainable, modular, automated, and AI-ready facilities. Participants explore emerging technologies such as liquid cooling, high-density computing environments, modular data centers, digital twins, AI-assisted design, predictive maintenance, intelligent building management, advanced energy management, renewable energy integration, and automated facility monitoring. By the end of the course, participants will be able to develop and manage comprehensive data center project delivery strategies that balance capacity, resilience, security, cost, schedule, sustainability, technology readiness, and long-term operational performance.
Duration
5 days
Who Should Attend
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Project managers responsible for data center construction, expansion, modernization, or migration projects
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Program managers overseeing data center development and technology infrastructure portfolios
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PMO directors and managers supporting data center governance, controls, reporting, and delivery assurance
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Data center facility managers involved in capital projects and infrastructure upgrades
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Construction managers coordinating multidisciplinary data center construction activities
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MEP engineers and project professionals involved in mechanical and electrical infrastructure delivery
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IT infrastructure managers responsible for servers, networks, storage, and technology deployment
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Data center architects and engineering professionals involved in facility and systems design
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Commissioning managers and specialists responsible for integrated systems testing and operational readiness
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Project controls professionals managing data center schedules, costs, resources, risks, and progress
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Procurement and supply chain professionals managing long-lead equipment and specialist suppliers
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Cybersecurity and physical security professionals supporting secure data center delivery
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BIM and digital engineering professionals coordinating models, information, and multidisciplinary interfaces
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Facilities and operations professionals preparing data centers for operational handover
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Consultants, contractors, and technology specialists delivering data center infrastructure projects
Course Objectives
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Explain the lifecycle, characteristics, technical requirements, delivery models, and project management challenges of modern data center projects.
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Develop data center project charters, business cases, scope definitions, work breakdown structures, deliverables, assumptions, and success criteria.
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Coordinate multidisciplinary design and delivery requirements across civil, structural, electrical, mechanical, networking, security, and IT systems.
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Develop integrated schedules incorporating design, procurement, construction, equipment delivery, installation, testing, commissioning, and handover.
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Apply project controls for data center cost, schedule, resources, procurement, progress, change, quality, risk, and performance management.
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Identify and manage technical, construction, supply-chain, cybersecurity, safety, regulatory, environmental, and operational delivery risks.
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Establish effective procurement and vendor management strategies for critical infrastructure, long-lead equipment, specialist systems, and technology components.
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Apply BIM, common data environments, digital twins, dashboards, reality capture, and analytics to improve coordination and project visibility.
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Develop commissioning, integrated systems testing, operational readiness, handover, documentation, training, and acceptance strategies.
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Evaluate emerging data center technologies including AI-ready infrastructure, liquid cooling, modular facilities, automation, sustainability, and intelligent operations.
Comprehensive Course Outline
Module 1: Foundations of Data Center Project Planning and Delivery
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Data center project characteristics, lifecycle stages, delivery models, stakeholders, business drivers, and critical project success factors
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Relationship between facility infrastructure, information technology, connectivity, resilience, security, capacity, maintainability, and operational continuity
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Data center project types including new facilities, expansions, upgrades, modernization programs, colocation developments, and hyperscale environments
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Establishing project governance, decision rights, delivery responsibilities, stakeholder structures, assurance mechanisms, and project management frameworks
Module 2: Data Center Requirements, Strategy, and Project Initiation
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Translating business, capacity, availability, performance, security, energy, scalability, and operational requirements into project objectives and deliverables
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Developing business cases, feasibility assessments, project charters, scope boundaries, assumptions, constraints, success measures, and investment priorities
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Assessing site, power, connectivity, environmental, regulatory, geographic, security, and expansion considerations during project initiation
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Establishing target capacity, resilience, growth, technology readiness, sustainability, maintainability, and operational requirements for the facility
Module 3: Data Center Design Coordination and Engineering Management
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Coordinating architectural, structural, electrical, mechanical, fire protection, security, networking, controls, and IT infrastructure design requirements
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Managing multidisciplinary interfaces, design dependencies, technical decisions, design reviews, approvals, constructability, and design change processes
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Applying BIM, digital engineering, common data environments, model coordination, clash detection, and information management to data center design
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Managing design maturity, technical assurance, design risks, specifications, documentation, drawings, calculations, and construction information requirements
Module 4: Integrated Scheduling, Cost, and Project Controls
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Developing integrated master schedules covering design, procurement, construction, equipment delivery, installation, testing, commissioning, and handover
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Identifying critical-path activities, long-lead equipment, major interfaces, constrained work areas, commissioning dependencies, and schedule risks
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Establishing cost structures, budgets, forecasts, commitments, actual costs, change controls, contingencies, and financial performance reporting
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Applying progress measurement, earned value concepts, dashboards, variance analysis, forecasting, recovery planning, and executive project reporting
Module 5: Procurement, Supply Chain, and Vendor Management
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Developing procurement strategies for generators, transformers, switchgear, UPS systems, cooling equipment, racks, cabling, controls, security, and specialist technologies
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Managing long-lead equipment, manufacturing schedules, factory testing, logistics, customs, storage, site delivery, inspection, and installation readiness
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Evaluating suppliers, contractors, technology vendors, subcontractors, service providers, warranties, commercial terms, and performance obligations
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Managing procurement risks, supplier delays, material shortages, quality issues, substitutions, design changes, and supply-chain disruption
Module 6: Construction, Installation, Quality, and Safety Management
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Coordinating civil, structural, architectural, electrical, mechanical, fire protection, security, network, and technology installation activities
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Managing construction sequencing, work fronts, subcontractor coordination, site logistics, access restrictions, permits, inspections, and installation interfaces
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Establishing quality assurance and quality control processes for critical infrastructure, equipment installation, testing, documentation, and defect management
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Integrating health, safety, environmental, physical security, and operational continuity requirements into data center construction activities
Module 7: Risk, Resilience, Cybersecurity, and Change Management
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Identifying risks associated with power, cooling, connectivity, equipment availability, construction, technology, cybersecurity, safety, and operational continuity
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Assessing resilience, redundancy, failure modes, single points of failure, maintainability, recoverability, and business continuity requirements
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Integrating cybersecurity and physical security requirements across facility systems, controls, networks, access systems, monitoring platforms, and IT infrastructure
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Managing technical changes, design revisions, variations, configuration changes, stakeholder decisions, and their impacts on cost, schedule, quality, and resilience
Module 8: Commissioning, Integrated Systems Testing, and Operational Readiness
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Developing commissioning strategies covering factory acceptance, installation verification, pre-functional testing, functional testing, and integrated systems testing
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Validating electrical, mechanical, controls, fire protection, security, network, monitoring, and IT infrastructure performance against approved requirements
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Simulating failure conditions, redundancy scenarios, transfer sequences, alarms, recovery processes, load conditions, and operational response procedures
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Managing commissioning documentation, punch lists, defect resolution, operator training, procedures, warranties, asset information, and final acceptance
Module 9: Handover, Digital Information, Sustainability, and Lifecycle Management
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Establishing handover strategies for as-built information, asset registers, operating procedures, maintenance documentation, test records, warranties, and certifications
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Applying digital twins, BIM, common data environments, asset information systems, and digital documentation to support facility operations and lifecycle management
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Integrating energy efficiency, renewable energy, water management, carbon reduction, cooling optimization, and environmental performance considerations
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Measuring project benefits through capacity delivery, resilience, availability, energy performance, operational readiness, cost, schedule, quality, and lifecycle outcomes
Module 10: Intelligent Data Centers, AI Infrastructure, and Emerging Technologies
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Exploring AI-ready data center infrastructure, high-density computing, advanced cooling, liquid cooling, specialized power requirements, and scalable capacity planning
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Examining modular and prefabricated data centers, edge facilities, automation, robotics, digital twins, and intelligent building management technologies
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Applying AI, predictive analytics, automated monitoring, anomaly detection, predictive maintenance, and intelligent energy optimization to data center operations
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Developing future-ready data center project strategies addressing sustainability, AI infrastructure demand, resilience, automation, cybersecurity, and continuous technological change
Training Approach
This course will be delivered by our skilled trainers who have vast knowledge and experience as expert professionals in the fields. The course is taught in English and through a mix of theory, practical activities, group discussion and case studies. Course manuals and additional training materials will be provided to the participants upon completion of the training.
Tailor-Made Course
This course can also be tailor-made to meet organization requirement. For further inquiries, please contact us on: Email: training@upskilldevelopment.com Tel: +254 721 331 808
Training Venue
The training will be held at our Upskill Training Centre. We also offer training for a group (at a discount of 10% to 50%) at requested location all over the world. The Onsite course fee covers the course tuition, training materials, two break refreshments, buffet lunch, airport transfers, Upskill gift package, and guided tour.
Visa application, travel expenses, dinners, accommodation, insurance, and other personal expenses are catered by the participant
Certification
Participants will be issued with Upskill certificate upon completion of this course.
Airport Pickup and Accommodation
Airport pickup and accommodation is arranged upon request. For booking contact our Training Coordinator through Email: training@upskilldevelopment.com, +254 721 331 808
Terms of Payment:
Unless otherwise agreed between the two parties’ payment of the course fee should be done 3 working days before commencement of the training so as to enable us to prepare better.
