Data center design is becoming more complex as Artificial Intelligence (AI) and hyperscale workloads grow. The resulting demand for compute power is driving rapid data center construction worldwide.
Reference designs simplify data center expansion by providing a common architectural foundation for construction. They account for factors ranging from cooling approaches to regional requirements, while aligning the full technology stack. Moreover, these proven frameworks foster essential synergy across the entire technology stack.
In this blog, we’ll explore how the industry can build data centers faster and more efficiently using reference designs.
Key Takeaways:
- Reference designs help data centers get built faster and with less risk. Pre-validated blueprints reduce design complexity, shorten construction timelines, and lower the chance of costly rework when building new data centers. ABI Research forecasts 407 new data centers going operational using
- AI workloads are driving the need for standardized data center design. Higher power densities and advanced cooling requirements make reference designs essential for scaling AI-ready data center infrastructure efficiently.
- Collaboration across vendors is critical to successful data center construction. Alignment between compute, networking, power, cooling, and facility providers ensures that systems work together and can be replicated across sites.
- Regional adaptability will determine data center design success. Data center building designs must account for local regulations, climate, and energy availability to support global expansion and faster deployment.
- AI and Hyperscale Data Centers Lead the Way: According to ABI Research forecasts, AI and hyperscale facilities will drive the greatest demand for data center reference designs. These large-scale data centers are used for massive cloud computing and house complex technologies, making standardized construction frameworks key to scaling infrastructure.
What Is a Data Center Reference Design and How Does It Support Construction?
A data center reference design is a blueprint for constructing new data centers based on established system interfaces, performance parameters, and integration requirements. These predefined frameworks bring the data center industry to a consensus regarding technical priorities in architectural design. Rather than designing each facility in isolation, construction teams can rely on a shared, proven model.
As a result, data center operators can expand their footprint more rapidly than before. Modular reference designs are built to support scalability by offering predictable, reusable structural elements. Therefore, successful designs can be replicated across multiple sites.
In addition to modular data center designs, there is also a growing need for data reference designs that support specific regions, energy consumption patterns, and systems. Vendors must balance open, modular designs with more prescriptive frameworks to give operators flexibility without sacrificing consistency.
How Can Data Center Construction Benefit from Reference Designs?
Reference designs offer clear advantages for optimizing data center construction. They accelerate timelines, improve decision-making, and reduce risk. These benefits are outlined as follows:
- Faster Time to Deployment: Reference designs provide pre-validated blueprints that reduce design variability and compress planning, engineering, and construction timelines.
- Clearer Decision-Making: Defined system requirements, interfaces, and performance targets create a shared framework that simplifies technology selection and approval.
- Improved System Coordination: Integrated reference designs align compute, power, cooling, networking, and facility infrastructure. Consequently, data center construction firms reduce the risk of incompatibility and rework.
- Scalable and Modular Expansion: Modular reference frameworks enable repeatable building blocks that support rapid iteration, upgrades, and capacity growth with minimal disruption.
- Regional Adaptability: Well-structured reference designs account for regional differences in regulation, climate, and infrastructure. This brings much-needed predictability to building new data centers.
Streamlining Data Center Construction Starts with Industry Collaboration
Accelerating data center construction requires close collaboration across the entire value chain. As demand rises, each layer of the build process must work together rather than in silos. The only way this can happen is if technology providers work together to deliver a consistent and integrated technology stack—the reference design.
The following vendor groups play a critical role in accelerating data center designs:
- Compute and AI Infrastructure: Provides computing resources, data storage, AI tools, and software. Examples include NVIDIA, Dell Technologies, Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), and Lenovo.
- Networking and Data Fabric: Offers infrastructure spanning networking, compute, and AI/Machine Learning (ML) fabrics. Examples include Cisco and Juniper Networks.
- Power Cooling and Facility Management: Supplies thermal management, power distribution, building automation, and integration capabilities. Vendors like Schneider Electric, Siemens, and Vertiv are notable players.
Regional Acceleration and the Need for Localized Data Center Building Standards
Each region has its unique power requirements, AI maturity, and data center infrastructure build-outs. This directly influences data center reference design adoption trends.
North America and Europe have the world’s most mature data center infrastructure, making operators in these regions more likely to adopt reference designs. With hyperscalers such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud, and Microsoft Azure expanding further, operators increasingly rely on documented frameworks to speed construction.
According to ABI Research, 61% of all new data centers in 2026 will use at least one reference design, with that number reaching 86% in 2030. North America leads the pack, accounting for 28% of all data centers built with these frameworks. In Europe, the figure will increase from 15% to 22%.
ABI Research expects a significant jump in the use of data center reference designs in Asia-Pacific and the Middle East & Africa. Data center expansion has progressed at a slower pace in these regions compared to North America and Europe.
However, investment in data centers will grow substantially in Asia-Pacific and the Middle East & Africa in the coming years, necessitating modular designs to expedite the completion of new construction projects. For example, Asia-Pacific’s share of all new data centers using a reference design will increase from 12% in 2026 to 19% by 2030.
Key Takeaway: These regional differences reflect the need for adaptable data center designs. Vendors must develop pre-validated construction frameworks that reflect regional standards, site readiness, climate, regulatory requirements, and customer preferences. Only then can data center operators and their construction partners quickly and efficiently scale AI infrastructure.
Conclusion
Data center construction projects have historically been carried out in completely isolated environments. This has led to delays in project completion and technology interoperability challenges. Reference designs change the equation by laying out a reliable framework that can be applied to numerous sites.
AI-first data centers, including hyperscale facilities, will leverage reference designs for construction at the fastest pace. This is because these buildings house the most complex technologies and have the greatest need to scale quickly. ABI Research also forecasts medium to high growth across colocation data centers, where the focus is on balancing standardized frameworks with customization. Meanwhile, enterprise data centers are the most sluggish to adopt reference designs, given that their scaling needs and deployment volumes are not nearly as robust as those of other operators and their site-to-site variability.
Reference designs should be viewed as essential for building data centers efficiently, scaling effectively, and meeting accelerating global demand. To maximize the value of next-generation data center designs, technology vendors must ramp up their partnerships with each other, create region-specific solutions, and strike a balance between modularity and customization.
They should also deploy digital twins early in the design and construction process. This allows teams to test assumptions and ensure alignment between systems and equipment.
Learn More: Download ABI Research’s report, Data Center Reference Designs Are Accelerating Global Deployment Timelines, for further guidance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are reference designs important for AI data center construction?
AI data centers are far more complex than traditional facilities, with higher power densities, advanced cooling needs, and tightly integrated technology stacks. Reference designs provide pre-validated architectures that help operators deploy AI infrastructure faster while reducing technical risk and design uncertainty.
How do reference designs reduce data center build times and costs?
Reference designs compress planning and engineering cycles by reusing proven layouts, system interfaces, and performance assumptions. This reduces redesign work, limits construction errors, and lowers the risk of costly rework during deployment.
What role do hyperscalers and vendors play in data center reference designs?
Hyperscalers and major vendors collaborate to define integrated stacks that align compute, networking, power, and cooling systems. Their involvement ensures that reference designs reflect real-world operational requirements and can be replicated across multiple sites at scale.
How do regional requirements affect data center reference design adoption?
Regional differences in climate, regulation, energy availability, and infrastructure shape how reference designs are implemented. As data center investment grows in Asia-Pacific and the Middle East & Africa, localized reference designs are becoming essential to accelerate construction while meeting regional standards.
