As digital infrastructure scales at unprecedented speed, data centre construction has become one of the most demanding sectors in the built environment. The stakes are high, and so are the expectations. Fast-tracked delivery, hyper-complex systems, and strict compliance frameworks now define the landscape—leaving no room for missteps. Below, we explore the defining challenges faced by project teams today.
Fast-Tracked Timelines
- Speed-to-market pressure is immense due to soaring demand for digital services and cloud expansion.
- Projects often compress traditional construction schedules into hyper-accelerated timeframes, requiring innovative prefabrication, modular techniques, and phased design delivery.
- Rapid procurement cycles and early contractor involvement (ECI) are now standard, but they also amplify risk if dependencies aren’t tightly managed.
Complex Multidisciplinary Coordination
- Data centres demand a convergence of architectural, structural, mechanical, electrical, and ICT systems, each with their own intricacies.
- Coordination across these disciplines—often spanning multiple firms and time zones—is critical to avoiding clashes and ensuring system interoperability.
- BIM and integrated project delivery (IPD) are powerful enablers but depend on skilled collaboration and real-time model sharing.
Massive Data and Model Sizes
- With huge MEP systems and intricate server layouts, models can reach terabytes in size, pushing software and hardware to their limits.
- Navigating these files requires high-performance computing environments, disciplined version control, and deep familiarity with digital workflows.
- Mismatched model versions or lagging updates can cascade into costly rework on-site.
Stringent Regulatory and Security Compliance
- These builds intersect with national infrastructure policies, cybersecurity protocols, and data sovereignty requirements.
- Jurisdictional complexity arises when global companies build across borders—each with its own codes, reporting structures, and inspection demands.
- Design and construction teams must be aligned from day one to satisfy government mandates, fire safety standards, and Tier certifications.
High-Stakes Communication
- A misinterpreted instruction or unclear scope change can lead to multi-million-dollar errors, especially on hyperscale projects.
- Construction teams operate under pressure where every day lost impacts SLAs and client trust.
- Precision in documentation, change tracking, and stakeholder alignment is essential, with tools like Revizto or Resolve playing a pivotal role in visual coordination.
Data centre construction is evolving rapidly, driven by emerging technologies and ever-increasing digital demand. To succeed, teams must not only master these challenges but anticipate them. Collaboration, agility, and strategic foresight will define the leaders in this space.
“The rising demand for data centres is a chance to rethink how we build. By embracing
modular design and the prefabrication of data centre infrastructure, we can dramatically
reduce construction time and improve scalability”.
Jason Howden, Chief Innovation Officer, Revizto
Smart Software at the Centre of Construction Solutions:
In projects like the $577M Victorian Heart Hospital and Thomas Embling Hospital in Victoria, John Holland used Revizto to centralize model coordination, streamline issue tracking, and reduce rework. With fast-tracked delivery and intense multidisciplinary demands, Revizto’s clash automation and graphical issue tracking kept teams aligned—even across jurisdictions and time zones.
But coordination isn’t just about designers and consultants. On a hyperscale data centre project in Sydney, Dexus and Resolve took collaboration a step further, integrating stakeholder engagement directly into the model environment. Using Resolve’s immersive issue platform, non-technical users—including developers and client-side leads—could navigate the digital twin, flag concerns, and approve changes without combing through complex drawings.
Together, Revizto and Resolve exemplify how construction software is evolving—not just to manage complexity, but to empower teams across all levels. From site engineers to executives, these tools are helping reduce ambiguity, enhance trust, and keep pace with digital infrastructure demands.
Testimonials
Thank you for all your efforts on our projects; they have been an invaluable contribution to their success. We look forward to working with you on future projects.
Ian Ferguson MPM Group
Jess and Karl at Draftech were amazing. The communication from the start was prompt, and the entire process was extremely easy. We needed their knowledge on Air Schematics, and they had made one up for our buildings that we service. Thanks so much, and we will be using you guys in the future. Cheers, Air Control Australia.
Greg Colebrook AirControl Australia
With Draftech’s thorough understanding of building services modelling and close attention to detail, Forth has been afforded the opportunity to outsource some of our BIM projects with absolute confidence in the accuracy of the final product.
Gary Murdoch Forth Consulting
Very professional and efficient organization. Delivered a great product to a tight deadline.
ACE Power
Karl and the team are very professional and have a vast knowledge of BIM coordination.
Dwayne Willaims Babinda Electrics
We had multiple large projects with tight deadlines and needed a company we could trust. The teams delivery, attention to detail and understanding of what is being designed is always executed to a high standard.
Martin O’Donovan Envar Engineers
Draftech offered a flexible and reliable approach to working collaboratively with our team. They met our expectations and quality requirements and also offered up new ideas.
Draftech have proven to be a valuable and trustworthy resource and we will continue to work with Draftech on other projects.
Simon Marsden Umow Lai
Draftech is different from others in the professionalism and features they provide.
The ability to walk through projects in real time online provides invaluable insight into problem areas and helps provide an efficient resolution on the spot without many phone calls, emails and the necessity for us to paw through countless drawings to understand the issues.
Todd Morris Manager - Air mech
Draftech were put forward to FIP Electrical as the solution to Coordinate, Model, carry out clash detection, provide Electrical Services Shop Drawings, as built documentation and completed electrical model.
Simon Thorpe FIP Electrical
In close collaboration Draftech set up all our systems and model deliverables. In this process Draftech have proven to be a valuable resource for us and demonstrated commitment, understanding and professionalism.
David Skelley DJCoalition
Draftech’s attention to detail and proactive nature throughout the project assisted us in identifying issues before becoming evident on site, saving us both time and unexpected costs.
Matt Payne PJM Engineering Services
They delivered very high quality Revit models and associated 2D documentation at key milestones, working to a tight budget and in strict accordance with the Architects’ BIM requirements.
Peter Thomas Geoff Hesford
We found Draftech’s work to be of high standard and the team delivered exactly as agreed, in fact, when we considered the project complete, Draftech put further resources into the project as they were not satisfied.
John Johnson Beca
Engaging Draftech during design gave us the tools to make smart decisions.
Hansen Yuncken Design Manager - Michael Harkins
The drafting service is timely, reliable and fit for purpose for the built environment.
Peter Harvey Harvey Industries
Draftech stands apart from other drafting services that we have previously used in their attention to detail and ability to adapt to the individual client’s requirements.
Doug Holt McCaig Aircon
I can confidently recommend Draftech as a solid and reliable supplier, and experts in their field. I look forward to working with them again in the near future.
Chris Behan Norman Disney & Young
After seeing the benefits Draftech provided us on the Townsville Hospital Redevelopment we have set up a relationship with Draftech and intend to continue to use their BIM knowledge and skills for our future projects.
Brad Lund Energy Power Systems
Draftech has no competition as they are in a class of their own.
John Boyes Babinda Electrics
Draftech Developments Drafting and Design Capabilities, in conjunction with their outstanding level of Client service and support has provided great solutions to our engineering and Drafting Design portions within our Gorgon Barrow Island Project.
Aaron Hazelton Applied Electro Systems Pty Ltd
Draftech set up necessary systems and workflows very quickly, but also setup auditable estimating and weekly cost tracking processes that we utilised, requiring little maintenance.
TOM PURDON MPM GROUP
