Fast-tracking data center construction: a conversation with Dominique Ledoux | Supply-chain disruptions, quality control, workforce constraints and resource availability

In this two-part interview series, we sit down with Hypertec Construction Project Management Director Dominique Ledoux to discuss the realities and challenges of fast-tracking data center delivery.

Hypertec Construction delivers data centers in as little as 12 months through an accelerated Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) approach. In Part I, Dominique shared how parallel design and construction, prefabrication, strategic procurement and early decision-making help our teams deliver projects on significantly shorter timelines than traditional construction projects.

Missed Part I? Read it here before diving in.

In this second and final part, we explore the challenges of delivering on accelerated schedules. From supply-chain disruptions and workforce constraints to quality control and resource availability, Dominique explains how our teams anticipate risks, adapt to unexpected challenges and keep large-scale data center projects on track.

1. What are the biggest threats to a data center construction schedule today, and which of those can a project management team actually control?

Fast-tracking itself creates risk because so many critical activities happen simultaneously. We cannot prevent every supplier issue or unexpected event, but we can control how we prepare and respond. Our role is to identify, assess and quantify risks, then establish response plans before they materialize.

On one project, a supplier failed to deliver as expected, forcing us to urgently redistribute manufacturing among four alternative vendors. During that process, we discovered that the number of busway hangers specified in the bill of materials, based on the original supplier's recommendations, was incorrect.

The original equipment manufacturer quoted a four-month lead time for the additional hangers, which our schedule couldn't accommodate. We had to quickly identify a local manufacturer capable of custom-fabricating the missing parts to avoid further delays.

2. Long-lead equipment can have a major impact on data center projects. How do you plan around equipment such as transformers, switchgear, generators and cooling systems when lead times are uncertain?

We need to secure production windows with key suppliers as early as possible and make sure we're ordering the right equipment from the outset. If you realize eight months into a project that you've ordered the wrong switchgear, you can't simply replace it overnight. Alternative designs may be possible, but they can also affect the schedule.

This is where experience and technical expertise make a difference. Hypertec has been in business for nearly 42 years, and Eliot [Ahdoot], the president of Hypertec Construction, brings extensive industry knowledge and an understanding of what's technically feasible. That experience helps us anticipate potential problems, evaluate alternatives and make decisions quickly when challenges arise.

3. How do you maintain quality control while working on an accelerated construction schedule?

Quality assurance has to be embedded in every stage of the project. From day one, we work with our general contractor's quality assurance program to establish inspection and testing requirements. These control points are integrated into the project schedule, so quality is verified as work progresses.

For example, concrete is tested when it is mixed, and samples are also taken on site during pouring to verify that it meets the required grade. Structural connections and anchors are also inspected and tested. Later, mechanical and electrical equipment goes through commissioning checklists and verification to ensure compliance and safe operation before energization.

On our projects, commissioning progresses through levels one to five. We document the tests and demonstrate that systems are working before handing a completed phase over to the customer.

4. How significant is workforce availability when delivering projects on accelerated timelines? How does Hypertec plan around skilled-labour shortages or regional workforce constraints?

Workforce availability is an ongoing consideration. Our supply-chain team continuously develops relationships with additional contractors and vendors so we have more options as projects advance.

During construction, we rely on our general contractor to manage site staffing. Depending on local conditions, they can bring in additional subcontractors or work with local unions to secure workers. Prefabrication also helps reduce the number of people required to complete certain activities on site.

5. How do commissioning and testing need to be integrated into the construction schedule from the beginning?

Commissioning starts during design. As our engineers and suppliers define the equipment and technical requirements, we also agree on the commissioning protocols and how each system will be verified.

We establish a commissioning plan that allows us to track individual equipment items, planned commissioning dates and test results. This gives the team visibility throughout the project instead of waiting until the end to organize testing. The end result needs to be the main focus from day 1 and throughout project execution. Understanding how the product is validated and accepted drives our daily decisions to ensure the project delivers the expected results.

6. Power availability is becoming a major consideration for new data center projects. At what stage does it enter the project management conversation, and what happens when the power a customer needs isn’t immediately available?

Power availability must be addressed before the project starts. We would not begin construction without a defined power solution. If the grid cannot supply the full requirement, the project may consider complementary sources, such as fuel cells. Those decisions need to be made before kickoff, so the construction plan is based on a clear power strategy.

7. How are water availability, land, climate or other natural-resource constraints changing the way data center projects are planned and delivered?

Requirements depend on the project's location and local regulations. Water availability is an important consideration. At Hypertec Construction, we use closed-loop glycol cooling systems that do not consume water during normal operation. Water is only required for the initial flushing of the piping.

On a recent project where water availability was particularly critical, we brought in our own water for that initial flush rather than drawing on the local public supply.

Beyond water conservation, we're also exploring ways to recover and reuse data center waste heat. At our LaSalle headquarters, for example, we're looking into using waste heat from the data center to support a greenhouse, creating value from energy that would otherwise go unused.

8. Data center development can face environmental or community pushback. How do those concerns affect project planning and execution?

Community relationships matter, and we look for ways each project can contribute locally. Education and youth development are part of that commitment. We also aim to hire locally wherever possible, creating employment and business opportunities in the surrounding community.

These efforts reflect our commitment to being a responsible partner to the communities where we operate. We continue to look for opportunities to strengthen local relationships, respond to community needs and create lasting local benefits.

9. Looking across the projects you’ve managed, what separates a data center project that stays on schedule from one that starts accumulating delays?

Project governance and timely decision-making are critical. When too many stakeholders try to steer the project without a clear decision-making process, it becomes difficult to maintain control of the schedule.

I've seen projects become harder to manage when stakeholder coordination slips. Clear responsibilities, effective stakeholder management and a defined decision-making structure help the team respond quickly and keep the project moving.

Managing Risk on Accelerated Projects

Delivering large-scale data centers on accelerated timelines requires careful planning, experienced teams and the ability to respond quickly when challenges arise. From securing critical equipment to managing construction risks, every decision can affect the schedule.

Across this two-part interview, Dominique has explained how Hypertec Construction combines early planning, parallel execution and proactive risk management to deliver data centers in as little as 12 months while maintaining quality and operational readiness.

Planning a data center project? Connect with our team to discuss your infrastructure requirements and how we can help accelerate your project.