The pace of change across the data centre sector was unmistakable at the recent DCAC 2026 Anti-Conference in Austin TX.  

Power constraints, new delivery models, community trust and workforce readiness all featured prominently in the conference program and conversations. DCAC’s official agenda reflected an industry responding to extraordinary demand while confronting increasingly complex development challenges.

Craig Sievenpiper, Vice President of HH Angus’ Science + Technology Division, attended the conference to meet with other industry experts. Here are three themes that Craig highlights as key takeaways:

1. Public confidence is becoming critical to project success

Data centres have traditionally operated with a high degree of anonymity, driven in part by legitimate security concerns. As the sector expands, however, that low-profile approach is becoming less sustainable.

Municipalities and local communities are paying closer attention to the potential effects of data centre development, particularly around power, water and land use. When information is limited, concerns can quickly be amplified by speculation or incomplete understanding.

The industry has an opportunity to address this by engaging earlier, communicating more openly, and responding to concerns with credible information rather than dismissing them. Explaining what a proposed facility will—and will not—require can help demystify data centres and establish a more informed basis for discussion.

Public acceptance is no longer peripheral to development. It is increasingly a project consideration that can influence approvals, schedules and the industry’s long-term ability to grow.

2. Rapid growth is rewriting the development playbook

The data centre industry is not simply producing more projects; it’s changing how those projects are planned and delivered.

Power availability has become a defining consideration in site selection and development strategy. Teams can no longer assume that conventional utility capacity will be available where or when it is needed. This is prompting new approaches to procuring sites and power, along with greater consideration of how facilities can be designed when traditional utility timelines do not align with market demand.

At the same time, rapid growth is attracting new participants to the sector. In this environment, proven experience becomes especially valuable. Owners need project teams capable of challenging assumptions, anticipating constraints and integrating decisions about sites, energy, design, construction and commissioning much earlier in the process.

The conventional, sequential development model may not provide the agility required for today’s market. Earlier collaboration and informed decision-making will be essential to delivering resilient facilities at the speed the industry demands.

3. The talent shortage extends across the entire data centre lifecycle

Workforce capacity emerged as another significant constraint—and it is not limited to any one discipline.

The sector needs designers, planners, project managers, architects, engineers, contractors, installers, technicians, operators and facility managers. As development accelerates, demand for experienced people is rising across every stage of a facility’s lifecycle.

Addressing this gap will require a broader approach to talent development. That includes bringing people into the sector from adjacent industries, reskilling professionals with transferable experience and creating stronger pathways for training and advancement.

The industry’s physical capacity can expand only as quickly as its human capacity. Organizations that treat workforce development as part of their long-term infrastructure strategy will be better positioned to sustain growth—and deliver the performance these complex facilities require.

DCAC is widely regarded as a significant industry event, bringing together top decision-makers—including operators, developers, hyperscalers, investors, and power infrastructure leaders. Discussions centre heavily on the modern collision of AI, massive compute demands, and power/grid constraints.