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Data center expansions
Live Site Data Center Expansions
With vacancy near 1%, most new capacity is built right next to halls that are already full and running. AAAT3 plans and manages expansions on live campuses, with tie-ins, separation and phased turnover that never put existing clients at risk.
- Tie-in & cutover planning
- Live site separation
- Phased turnover
- Shared utility coordination
- Client communication
By the numbers
Why live site expansions need a plan
Data center capacity under construction in North America
JLL, Midyear 2026North American data center vacancy, the third straight year near this level
JLL, Midyear 2026Operators whose last major outage cost more than $100,000
Uptime Institute Outage Analysis, 2026What’s included
Build the new hall without touching the old one
Separation, tie-ins and turnover planned around the clients already in the building.
Separation
Keep construction traffic, dust and crews away from live space.
- Construction and live boundaries
- Separate access and routes
- Dust and noise barriers
- Security for live areas
Tie-ins and cutovers
New power, cooling and fiber must connect to running systems.
- Tie-in MOPs and windows
- Shutdown and rollback plans
- Utility and owner approvals
- Go or no-go calls
Phased turnover
New halls go live one by one while work continues next door.
- Phase boundaries and schedules
- Commissioning by phase
- Turnover inside active sites
- Operations handoff
Project management and consulting
Project management and consulting for expansions
AAAT3 can manage the expansion, run the operations interface or plan the tie-ins.
Expansion project management
Schedule, trades and owner reporting for new phases on live campuses.
Best for: Operators adding capacityOperations interface management
Bridge between construction and the facility team.
Best for: Expansions next to running hallsTie-in and cutover planning
MOPs, windows and rollback plans for every connection.
Best for: Shared power, cooling and fiber systemsPhasing and logistics
Boundaries, routes and laydown planned around live operations.
Best for: Tight campuses with limited spaceClient communication support
Notices and updates for tenants affected by work.
Best for: Colocation sitesFederal expansions
EM 385-1-1 and USACE CQM on federal campuses.
Best for: Federal and military data centersHow it works
From plan to live new hall
Assess
Live systems and shared utilities.
Separate
Boundaries, access and barriers.
Build
Construction under live site rules.
Tie in
Connections under MOPs.
Commission
Testing by phase.
Turn over
New hall handed to operations.
Rule of thumb: every tie-in to a live system gets a MOP, a window and a rollback plan, no exceptions.
Ways to work with us
Pick the level of support you need
Start small with a review, put a qualified person on site, or hand us the whole program. Every option is priced to your scope.
Quick start
Expansion risk review
A review of your expansion plan and tie-ins.
- Plan review
- Tie-in list
- Risk fixes
- Report in days
Most popular
Operations interface
AAAT3 manages the boundary between construction and operations.
- MOP tracking
- Access control
- Tie-in coordination
- Weekly reports
Full program
Expansion management
We manage the expansion from planning to turnover.
- Schedule and trades
- Tie-ins
- Phased turnover
- Owner reporting
What you get
Deliverables
Expansion plan
Phases, boundaries and schedule.
Tie-in register
Every connection with its MOP and window.
Separation plan
Access, barriers and routes.
Phased turnover plan
Which halls go live and when.
Client notices
Updates for affected tenants.
Weekly report
Progress and risks.
Standards
Codes and standards we work to
Data center
3- ANSI/TIA-942
Data center infrastructureIndustry
- NFPA 75
Protection of IT equipmentIndustry
- NFPA 241
Safeguarding construction operationsIndustry
Safety and federal
3- NFPA 70E
Electrical safety in the workplaceIndustry
- 29 CFR 1926
Construction safety standardsFederal
- EM 385-1-1
USACE safety and health requirementsFederal
Related data center services
Every phase of the build, one partner
Where we do this work
Adding a hall to a live campus? Get your tie-ins and separation planned before you mobilize.
Get an Expansion QuoteFAQ
Common questions
Why are live site expansions risky?
New work connects to power, cooling and fiber that existing clients depend on. Dust, access and tie-ins can all cause outages if not controlled.
What is a tie-in?
The point where new systems connect to existing ones, such as a new feeder to live switchgear or a new loop to a running chilled water system.
Can AAAT3 manage the whole expansion?
Yes. We manage schedule, trades, tie-ins and phased turnover.
Do you work with operations teams?
Yes. We act as the interface between construction and the facility team so operations stays first.
Do you work on federal campuses?
Yes. We work to EM 385-1-1 and USACE CQM on federal expansions.
Get a quote for Live Site Data Center Expansions
Tell us about your project, location and start date. We reply with a plan and pricing.
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