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Technical guideFree to read2025

Data centre construction cost index 2025-2026 (press release: AI data centre rush raises alarm over construction supply chain)

Turner & Townsend

Press release summary of Turner & Townsend's annual benchmark of data centre construction cost per watt across 52 markets.

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Overview

This document is the press release summary of Turner & Townsend's annual benchmark of data centre construction cost per watt across 52 markets. According to the release, cost inflation for traditional air-cooled facilities has slowed: the average across 52 markets in 2025 is 5.5%. AI-ready halls in the US, however, carry a 7-10% construction premium over traditional facilities of similar IT capacity.

The highest-cost markets (US$/W) are Tokyo 15.2, Singapore 14.5, Zurich 14.2, Osaka 14.1 and Silicon Valley 13.3, with London at 12.0 and Frankfurt at 11.6. These figures are indicative benchmarks, not project estimates.

A survey component highlights supply chain unreadiness for advanced cooling and power availability as the main schedule risks: 83% of respondents say local supply chains are not ready for advanced cooling, and 48% cite power availability as the biggest obstacle to on-time delivery. As a press release the document contains no method detail; the values are dated and regional, so they must be adapted to local conditions.

Key points

  1. Average construction cost inflation for traditional data centres: 5.5% in 2025 across 52 markets.
  2. AI data centres in the US carry a 7-10% construction premium over traditional facilities of similar IT capacity.
  3. Highest cost markets (US$/W): Tokyo 15.2, Singapore 14.5, Zurich 14.2, Osaka 14.1, Silicon Valley 13.3; London 12.0, Frankfurt 11.6.
  4. 83% of respondents say local supply chains are not ready for advanced cooling.
  5. 48% cite power availability as the biggest obstacle to on-time delivery.
  6. Figures are indicative US$/W benchmarks, not project estimates.
  7. Freely available source.

Using it in design

  • Seed the cost module with regional US$/W benchmarks by market and year, with an AI/liquid-cooled premium factor (7-10% default for the US).
  • Label the figures as indicative and dated so users replace them with project estimates.
  • Track the cooling supply chain and power availability as separate items in schedule risk.

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Who should read it

Developers, cost consultants and designers preparing data centre investment budgets and schedules.

Publication details

Authors
Turner & Townsend
Publisher
Turner & Townsend
Year
2025
Document language
English
Source type
Expert / community
Access
Free to read
Licence
Copyright retained; citation only — the publisher’s terms apply to the original document

Citation

Turner & Townsend (2025). Data centre construction cost index 2025-2026 (press release: AI data centre rush raises alarm over construction supply chain). Turner & Townsend. https://www.turnerandtownsend.com/news/ai-data-centre-rush-raises-alarm-over-construction-supply-chain

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