DATA CENTER TRANSFORMATION IN TEXAS WINS DCS BROWNFIELD PROJECT OF THE YEAR AWARD

Ci Design, Inc. is proud to announce that a transformative data center redevelopment project completed in partnership with T5 Construction has been recognized with the 2026 DCS Brownfield Project of the Year Award.

The award honors the successful conversion of a former cryptocurrency mining facility in Texas into a high-performance, AI-ready data center campus for a major hyperscale client. The project exemplifies how strategic redevelopment of existing infrastructure can help address the growing demand for artificial intelligence computing capacity while overcoming industry challenges related to site availability, power constraints and accelerated delivery schedules.

As AI adoption continues to drive unprecedented demand for data center capacity, the project demonstrates a forward-thinking approach to infrastructure development. Rather than pursuing a traditional greenfield site, the team reimagined and modernized an existing digital infrastructure asset, significantly reducing development timelines while creating a scalable platform capable of supporting next-generation GPU workloads.

"This award reflects the power of collaboration, innovation and execution in solving some of the industry's most complex challenges," said Michael Malone, Mission Critical Principal at Ci. "By leveraging existing infrastructure and integrating design, construction and operational expertise from the outset, the project delivered critical AI capacity on an accelerated timeline while creating long-term value for the client."

The redevelopment presented numerous challenges, including a constrained site footprint, existing buildings not originally designed for modern high-density computing environments and the need for phased occupancy that would allow portions of the campus to become operational while construction continued elsewhere.

To meet these demands, the project team implemented a highly coordinated delivery strategy that combined adaptive reuse with new construction. Existing structures were transformed into high-density data halls while new AI-ready facilities were developed simultaneously across the campus. The approach enabled phased energization and accelerated deployment of critical infrastructure, allowing the client to begin supporting AI workloads well before full campus completion.

Several innovative solutions helped maximize the site's potential. Mechanical systems were elevated on specialized platforms to preserve valuable ground space, while structural enhancements within existing buildings supported the heavy cooling and infrastructure demands associated with advanced AI environments. These strategies allowed the team to extend the life of existing facilities, reduce material waste and avoid the costs and delays associated with demolition and redevelopment.

The project delivered substantial benefits, including faster time-to-market, reduced capital expenditures, minimized commissioning risk and improved long-term operational reliability. By repurposing an existing facility rather than developing a new site from the ground up, the project also demonstrated a more sustainable approach to meeting the growing demands of the digital economy.

The DCS Brownfield Project of the Year Award recognizes projects that successfully transform existing sites into high-performing digital infrastructure assets through innovation, efficiency and measurable business impact. The award-winning project serves as a model for how the industry can leverage existing infrastructure to support the next generation of AI-driven growth.

About Ci Design, Inc.

Since 2009, Ci Design, Inc. has been turning development ideas into reality for a diverse base of regional, national and international clients as an award-winning architecture firm. Ranked among the nation's leading data center architecture firms, Ci's Mission Critical Practice has shaped more than 20 gigawatts of data centers across the United States, serving hyperscale, colocation and enterprise clients through innovative, scalable and resilient design solutions.