Scala Data Centers, a hyperscale data center developer and operator in Brazil, which is backed by DigitalBridge, through the Digital Colony Partners I private equity fund, today announced the creation of its Center of Excellence in Engineering (CoE) in Latin America, which will help to build-out the company’s more than 650-megawatt development pipeline in the São Paulo market and broader Latin America region.
Center of Excellence in Engineering (CoE)
DigitalBridge and Scala’s goal is to enhance the process of building data centers in Latin America, producing greater economies of scale, flexibility, and a shorter project delivery time. Scala’s Center of Excellence in Engineering (CoE) will manage the entire design and construction value chain of the company’s data centers in the region. Specifically, the CoE’s scope takes on a construction management role, which includes technical due diligence, conceptual design, and final project design, for new data center builds – tasks which are often outsourced.
Through vertical integration, DigitalBridge’s Scala will reduce the delivery time of data centers to its hyperscale customers. This is because the company will have more control and visibility of the projects it carries out.
Finally, the CoE will develop data center technologies and solutions with a focus on increasing operational and energy efficiency. For example, Scala has implemented energy efficiency technologies to reach a power usage effectiveness (PUE) ratio of 1.5, below the 1.77 average for data centers in Latin America. Moreover, Scala’s new data centers are designed to operate with a 1.4 PUE ratio.
Engineering and Construction Team
Presently, the CoE has 40+ professionals in Latin America, with a near-term target of reaching 60 people. Scala’s CoE team includes architects, civil, electrical, and mechanical engineers. Also, the group has specialists in construction, design, and commissioning.
Development Pipeline – Scala Data Centers
Scala has three operating hyperscale campuses in the São Paulo market, two currently under development, and more in the planning stage. Below is a breakdown of Scala Data Centers’ portfolio, which if fully developed, would encompass 650+ megawatts of power capacity by 2023:
Operating and Under Development
- SP1 (São Paulo – Tamboré) has 21.4 megawatts of power capacity, across 188k sqft (17.5k sqm) of total area
- SP2 (São Paulo – Alameda Glete) has 7.2 megawatts of power capacity, across 70.0k sqft (6.5k sqm) of total area
- SP3 (São Paulo – Tamboré) will comprise 12 megawatts of power capacity, across 56.0k sqft (5.2k sqm) of total area. Notably, SP3 is currently under construction, and expected to be operational in 2021
- CP1 (Campinas – State of São Paulo) has 6 megawatts of power capacity (acquired from Algar Tech). Presently, Scala is developing a second 45-megawatt data center and has plans for a third 45-megawatt facility. Once fully built-out, the campus will comprise three buildings with 100 megawatts of power capacity across 1.4 million sqft (130k+ sqm)
Future Pipeline – Planning Stage
- SP4 (São Paulo – Tamboré) will have 18 megawatts of power capacity, with construction during 2021 and opening in 2022
- SP5 (São Paulo – Tamboré) will have 9 megawatts of power capacity, with construction beginning in 2022
- SP6 (São Paulo – Tamboré) will have 60 megawatts of power capacity, with construction beginning in 2022
- Jundiaí (State of São Paulo) will have 100 megawatts of power capacity
Confirmed Projects – Rest of Latin America
Scala Data Centers is seeking to build two campuses in each of Querétaro, Mexico; Santiago, Chile; and Bogotá, Colombia. Specifically, the company targets having full operations in these countries by 2023, with 340 megawatts of power capacity.
