Due to the dynamic development of technology, the demand for data centers is growing. In Poland, however, there are still significantly fewer such facilities than in other European capitals. What is worth knowing when planning to buy a plot of land for a data center?
Data center – what is it?
Data center is a building, group of buildings or room where IT infrastructure is stored – including servers and network infrastructure . It is mainly used to store, process and provide services related to applications. Data centers are often called the new sector of commercial real estate. Most of such facilities are located in cities such as London, Amsterdam, Frankfurt or Paris . In Berlin, Oslo, Vienna, Prague or Warsaw – the number of data processing centers is slightly lower.
Want to learn more about the commercial real estate market? Check out the article on our website: Commercial Real Estate Market Guide .
Data processing centers in Poland
Companies belonging to the most popular public cloud providers, namely Microsoft and Google Cloud , are planning to invest in large data centers in Poland. At the end of last year, the supply of this type of space in our country amounted to 115,000 m² . In October 2023, Atman, the market leader in Poland, also began building a data center near Ożarów Mazowiecki. In Jawczyce near Warsaw, there is already a data processing center with an area of 15,000 m², and work is underway on a second building next to it. A four-building investment is planned there.
How to choose a plot for a data center?
When looking for land for a data center, you need to consider several specific factors. The key one concerns the location of the facility itself - this is extremely important to ensure access to reliable Internet . What else is worth considering when choosing a plot of land for a data processing center?
Suitable location
One of the key factors to consider when choosing a plot for a data center is location. A data center is a place that particularly requires flawless power supply and access to the Internet . When looking for a plot for this type of facility, it is therefore worth checking whether it provides access to high-performance fiber-optic Internet connections, preferably from several different operators . For example, one of Orange's properties designated for a data center provides access to both the services of this operator and other operators connected to its network . It is also important not to place a data center close to facilities and areas that could threaten the operation of the data center. These include areas exposed to floods or fires .
Technical issues
When choosing a plot of land on which a data processing center is to be built, attention should also be paid to the geomechanical properties of the soil . For this purpose, it is worth performing geotechnical studies that will help:
- check the bearing capacity of the plot ;
- assess the risk of problems such as foundation collapse ;
- determine the groundwater level .
This will allow you to take action to protect the ground from threats such as flooding of the building. It is also worth installing monitoring on the premises.
Appropriate plot size
The plot of land for the data center should also be of the right dimensions. Otherwise, it may not be able to accommodate the entire facility . Usually, land with an area of 2-5 hectares is considered. In the case of city centers, data processing centers are sometimes located inside new office buildings . It is good if after the data center is built, it is possible to expand it , or even completely change the purpose of the building, so it is worth considering planning conditions.