AI Is Forcing a Rethink of Data Center Infrastructure at Every Level
The data center industry is being redefined by AI’s demand for faster, denser, and more scalable infrastructure. According to McKinsey, average rack power densities have more than doubled in just two years. It went from approximately 8 kW to 17 kW, and is expected to hit 30 kW by 2027. Global data center power demand is projected to triple by 2030, reaching 170–220 gigawatts. This rapid growth is forcing a redesign of traditional infrastructure, placing unprecedented strain on utilities, manufacturers, and the skilled labor pipeline.
Can infrastructure and workforce capacity scale quickly enough to meet AI’s surging data center demands without breaking the system?
On Straight Outta Crumpton, host Greg Crumpton welcomes Matt Caldwell, Director of AI/Cloud Data Centers at Hyper Solutions, for a candid conversation about the pressures shaping the modern data center ecosystem. They discuss how AI workloads are upending long-established design norms, why modular manufacturing may offer a more resilient solution, and how labor shortages threaten to slow the entire market. Caldwell also shares how Hyper’s unique digital-first model enables scalable, repeatable quality across a distributed manufacturing network.
Key Highlights:
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Density Rewrites the Rulebook: Traditional data centers were designed around ~4 kW racks; today’s AI applications require vastly more, prompting major shifts in cooling, power, and facility planning.
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Hyper’s Scalable Manufacturing Model: Hyper Solutions produces PDUs, RPPs, and switchboards through a network of nine UL-listed satellite facilities, all driven by a unified digital process that ensures consistency and real-time visibility.
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Workforce Urgency: Caldwell underscores a critical labor gap, urging the industry to recruit earlier, targeting high school and even middle school students to meet the rising demand for trades and technical expertise in construction and operations.
Matt Caldwell is a seasoned data center executive with over 20 years of experience supporting hyperscale and colocation clients across AI and cloud infrastructure. He has led global account strategy and mission-critical operations at industry leaders including Schneider Electric, Siemens, Trane, and Albireo Energy. Caldwell specializes in scalable design, modular power systems, and digital-first infrastructure delivery and now serves as the Director of AI/Cloud Data Centers at Hyper Solutions.
