A global surge in demand for AI computing capacity is placing unprecedented pressure on data centre supply chains and power infrastructure, according to Turner & Townsend’s latest Data Centre Construction Cost Index 2025-2026.
The report, which analyses construction benchmarks across 52 markets and surveys more than 280 industry experts, identifies 2025 as a tipping point in the shift from traditional air-cooled facilities to high-density, liquid-cooled data centres engineered for AI workloads.
However, the industry’s rapid pivot towards more advanced facilities is outpacing infrastructure readiness, sparking concern among operators and developers. Turner & Townsend warns that without urgent adaptation, these pressures risk delaying delivery and inflating costs across one of the world’s fastest-growing digital infrastructure segments.
