Data Center Construction in Corinth, Texas

Heat is the problem a data center solves every second, and in Corinth we start with where that heat goes. A mechanical yard holds chillers, cooling towers or dry coolers, pumps, piping and the water treatment that keeps them running. Its size, its noise and its water demand shape the whole site, so we plan it first and draw the building around it.

Corinth is a small Denton County city on the Interstate 35E corridor, and its position makes it useful to owners who want a quieter address near the metro. The state widened the interstate between Dallas and Denton in a project of $1.4 billion over 30 miles, which was celebrated in November 2017 and added a lane south of the Corinth Parkway exit. That corridor carries equipment, fiber and workers to the sites we build.

We coordinate the engineers, the mechanical and electrical trade partners and the owner's representatives from preconstruction through turnover. We schedule and inspect the work, and we keep a close watch on the interface between the cooling plant and the electrical path, where most late changes begin.

For many Corinth owners the most important building is not the data hall but the central utility plant, the structure that houses chillers, pumps, heat exchangers and controls. A plant like this may serve one hall now and several later, so the pipe headers, structural slab and electrical feeds are sized for the final load even if the first phase uses only part of it.

The same attention applies to a generator and fuel yard, where tanks, containment, fuel piping and exhaust paths must be designed together. Smaller edge and enterprise rooms use packaged cooling that sits on a roof or a pad, and we handle those with the same early structural review.

The roads around Corinth give the site team a plain route plan. A new three-mile, six-lane stretch of FM 2499 between FM 2181 in Corinth and the interstate in Denton was funded by a $34.8 million contract awarded to a heavy highway contractor, and the project is described in an August 2014 report. The road provides a second path to the interstate for deliveries and workers.

Neighbors in the same market include Denton, which has its own municipal electric utility, Lewisville to the south and Frisco to the east, where the fiber and corporate base is deeper. We compare the sites on power availability, cooling water, schedule and cost.

A mechanical yard brings water treatment chemicals, glycol or refrigerant, diesel fuel and high-voltage motors into the same space. We write a safety plan that separates those hazards, labels each system and sets rules for filling, flushing and testing. Confined-space entry, hot work on piping and lockout of pumps all need written permits.

Pressure testing is another risk that deserves care. We schedule it with the piping subcontractor and the owner's engineer, clear the area, and record every test. The same discipline applies to fuel tank testing and electrical energization. Our construction cleanliness and safety plan keeps dust and debris out of pipes and equipment before start-up.

Development along the interstate keeps adding demand for power and water. In 2023 a developer bought 20 acres on Interstate 35E at Corinth Parkway for a project of about 275 apartments and 16 townhomes plus a hotel, with retail and dining totaling 22,000 square feet. Growth of that kind adds to the load on the water and electric systems, and it affects the traffic and noise that a data center site will see.

For an owner, the question is what capacity remains for a mission-critical use. We ask the water provider about peak demand and discharge limits at the start, and we ask the electric utility about feeders and substations. Colocation and wholesale operators, described under colocation and wholesale operators, ask these questions first. Those answers decide whether the site can use evaporative cooling or must rely on closed-loop systems with minimal makeup water.

Cooling work has a natural order. The plant pad and underground piping go first, then the structure that covers or surrounds the plant, then the equipment set, then the pipe connections, then flushing and treatment, and last the controls. We coordinate that order with the data hall schedule so the cooling is ready before servers arrive.

Chillers and cooling towers are large, so setting them requires crane days that cannot be moved easily. We tie each lift to a pad completion date and a weather window. Lead times for pumps, heat exchangers and controls are tracked in the same procurement calendar as electrical gear.

The biggest cost choice in a mechanical yard is the type of cooling. Air-cooled chillers use less water but more electric power and more space. Water-cooled plants with towers use less power but need makeup water, treatment and discharge permits. Liquid cooling for dense racks adds distribution piping and heat exchangers inside the hall. The right choice depends on utility rates, water availability and the density of the load.

Underground piping length, pad size, noise screening and redundancy level also move the number. We price two or three options early and show the owner how each changes operating cost, not just construction cost. A strong estimate here prevents a redesign later. See also chiller and cooling plant pads for the pad details.

Our scope for a Corinth project covers site grading, drainage, the cooling plant pad and structure, underground and above-ground piping, electrical feeds to the plant, water service and treatment, and the interface to the data hall. We also coordinate the controls that link the plant to the building management system.

The last step is commissioning. We schedule functional tests in stages: equipment start-up, system flush and fill, controls verification, load bank tests with simulated heat and finally integrated tests with the electrical system. The owner's commissioning agent witnesses each stage. For details on the final phase see integrated systems commissioning.

Send the parcel, the planned load and any water information you have. We will return a mechanical yard layout, a cooling options comparison and a commissioning outline.

How much water does a data center cooling plant need?

It depends on the cooling type and the load. Air-cooled systems use little water. Evaporative systems use more, and the demand rises in hot weather. We ask the water provider for available capacity and peak limits, then design the plant to fit.

Where does the noise from chillers and generators go?

We place equipment away from property lines when possible and use walls, barriers and equipment selection to limit sound. Noise limits are checked with the local rules during permitting. Generator testing hours are also set in the operating plan.

What is commissioning and when does it start?

Commissioning is the staged testing that proves each system works alone and together. It starts in design, when the owner's agent reviews the sequence of operations, and continues through equipment start-up and integrated tests. We build the schedule so each test has time and access.

Can the plant be built ahead of the data hall?

Yes. Many owners build the plant, the yard and the first hall together and leave room for later halls. The pipe headers and electrical feeds are sized for the final load, and the extra capacity is capped until needed.