Engineering consultants design how a data centre works: how power reaches the racks, how heat leaves the building, how the structure carries heavy plant, how water and fire systems are arranged, and how everything is tested before handover. Their decisions set most of the project's cost and most of what suppliers are later asked to deliver.
Engineering firms with reported Australian data centre projects
| Firm | Reported projects | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Aurecon | NEXTDC P2 (Perth), NEXTDC B2 (Brisbane), NEXTDC M2 (Melbourne), Global Switch Sydney East and West | Aurecon |
| Hames Sharley (architecture) | NEXTDC P2 Perth | Hames Sharley |
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The Role of Engineering in Data Centres
| Discipline | Key data centre responsibilities |
|---|---|
| Electrical | HV connection and substation, redundancy architecture, switchgear, UPS, generators, distribution, protection studies |
| Mechanical | Chilled water, heat rejection, air handling, liquid cooling distribution, controls |
| Structural | Frames and floors for heavy plant and racks, multi-storey data halls, roof plant, generator structures |
| Civil | Earthworks, drainage and stormwater, roads, utility servicing |
| Fire | Fire engineering reports, detection and suppression design, battery and fuel hazards |
| Hydraulic | Water supply (including recycled water), sewer, trade waste, fuel systems |
| Commissioning | Commissioning plans, witness testing, integrated systems testing |
| Design management | Coordinating disciplines, BIM, and the developer's design standards |
Key Infrastructure Requirements
Designing for density
AI loads are forcing redesign. NEXTDC's M4 targets 1,000 kW racks with direct-to-chip cooling, which requires coordinated electrical, mechanical and structural design at densities few Australian buildings have reached.
Designing for water
Victoria now requires recycled or non-drinking water for water-intensive cooling, with design WUE caps of 1.0 L/kWh (potable) and 1.6 L/kWh (non-potable) for new applications. NSW requires data centres to fund additional water supply. Hydraulic and mechanical engineers now make water-strategy decisions that directly affect approval.
Designing for the grid
Transgrid's capacity policy and the AEMC's recommendations on firming and co-located storage affect electrical design, including battery integration and load flexibility.
Designing for approval
EIS documents rely on engineering inputs: noise from plant and generators, air quality from generator testing, stormwater, and traffic. The objections to Western Sydney projects (see Western Sydney) are largely objections to engineering outputs.
Commissioning
Commissioning engineers prove the redundancy the design claims. Integrated systems testing simulates utility failures and component failures to show IT load is maintained.
Selecting a Supplier
- Data centre design references at comparable scale and density
- Multi-discipline coordination, or proven collaboration between firms
- Experience with NSW SSD, Victorian DFP and council pathways
- Commissioning capability
- Resourcing across multi-phase programmes
Current Project Demand
Design work comes early. Projects at or approaching design stage include S7, the Mamre Road campus, STACK SYD01, Project Atlas, CDC KC1, MEL2, M4 and Western Downs Digital Park. New state rules (NSW August 2026, Victoria September 2026) also mean designs for new applications must meet updated energy and water requirements.
Relevant Data Centre Projects
All projects · Data centre power · Data centre cooling
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