Better Built: How Tate Is Creating The Next Generation Of Data Center Solutions

The data center market is estimated at $30.4B and forecasted to exceed $117.2B by 2034. Amazon Web Services said it will invest $35B in cloud data centers in Virginia by 2040, while Google has announced the creation of several $1B facilities. 

“As the industry grows, so does the need to drive innovation, improve data center operations and stay sustainable,” Tate Data Center Design Engineering Manager Brian Prats said. “Leaders need to move fast, be smart and stay agile.” 

Tate is a global company with over 60 years of experience in manufacturing hot and cold aisle containment solutions at speed and scale. Tapping into this experience enables operators and owners to scale and add value to their data center projects, Prats said. 

“We work closely with customers to identify opportunities that support the end-users' goals and keep the environment top of mind,” he said. “By doing so, we have been able to adapt and provide products that future-proof data centers.”

Tate has spent the last decade working closely with experts and customers on the efficiency, cooling and density of hot and cold aisle containment systems.

For density challenges and heavier cable loads that support higher power levels and more network connections, Tate reshaped its modular containment solution. By using steel sections of tube, the company creates floor-to-ceiling structures that can handle a greater volume of trades and functions. This solution provided the quality of product and flexibility operators are seeking, Prats said. 

“The equipment needed in data centers is extremely heavy,” he said. “Server racks can apply seismic loads in addition to all their power and network wires, which need to be supported and contained effectively. Tate’s steel tubing system can withstand tens of thousands of pounds of loading made up of servers, wires and cables up to 100 feet long.” 

Cooling is another key consideration, as on average, 40% of a data center’s energy consumption goes to cooling and ventilation. Tate’s product team examines all aspects of the design, down to each small component, such as ceiling clips and testing attachment styles to ensure they are robust. 

Tate’s approach focuses on providing a high level of support and project management. Each customer has unique requirements, so Tate has created a success team who can provide regional support and customer service throughout the project. 

Tate has also made sustainability a priority, not only in how the company operates but how its solutions can help customers meet their sustainability goals, Prats said. The team is continuously investigating alternative materials while looking to decrease waste in its manufacturing processes by designing modular systems. 

“Tate develops an effective standard design with fewer unique components,” he said. “This can decrease the number of materials used as well as our carbon footprint. An added benefit is that a system with fewer sections is easier to install, which reduces setup time and emissions.” 

This ability to reduce setup time is a key focus of Tate’s efforts. Speed to installation with reduced lead times is an important concern in the data center industry, Prats said. Competition is at an all-time high and data center operators are trying to open as many facilities as possible. 

“While we’re optimizing our designs for resilience, we’re optimizing for shipping and installation,” he said. “We work directly with the client and tradesmen on-site, considering the whole process from concept to installation and commissioning. Tate’s experience, support and project management team add value to their investment.” 

Tate operates globally and is building more facilities across the U.S. to expand its production capacity and continually provide better lead times. The business is growing in line with the data center industry, Prats said. No matter the size of the customer’s portfolio of data centers, Tate aims to work with them to create the most efficient design possible.

This article was produced in collaboration between Tate and Studio B. Bisnow news staff was not involved in the production of this content.

Studio B is Bisnow’s in-house content and design studio. To learn more about how Studio B can help your team, reach out to studio@bisnow.com.