How long does it take to build a data centre?

Traditional purpose-built data centres take 18-36 months from groundbreaking to live load, depending on market permitting timelines and utility interconnection queues. Modular/prefabricated designs compress this to 6-12 months because major components arrive factory-tested and ready to connect. Hyperscale campuses with multiple buildings and on-site substations take 3-5 years for full buildout, though operators typically energise buildings in phases. The biggest bottleneck in 2026 is not construction — it is power. Transformer lead times run 18-36 months, and utility interconnection queues in top markets like Northern Virginia and Dublin now stretch 3-5 years. Smart operators pre-order electrical gear before they even break ground.