Podcast: Building Capacity with T5 Data Centers EVP David Mettler
For this episode of the Data Center Frontier Show podcast, Data Center Frontier Editor in Chief Matt Vincent meets with David Mettler, Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing for T5 Data Centers.
In the course of discussion, Mettler provides an overview of T5's model for building data center capacity in light of current events, emphasizing the importance of power and meeting agreed-upon timelines.
Talk centers on how T5 has acquired 160 acres in Grayslake, Illinois for a data center with a power capacity of up to 480 MW, to be delivered between 2027 and 2029.
Mettler emphasizes T5's flexibility and how a customer-centric solutions mindset informs the company's data center model.
The discussion also touches on T5's commitment to environmental stewardship, considering various onsite data center energy options such as nuclear and hydrogen.
Here's a timeline of the podcast's key moments:
2:17 - David Mettler details T5's acquisition of 160 acres in Grayslake, Illinois for data center development, emphasizing factors such as zoning, an attractive site, and power capacity up to 480 MW delivered between 2027 and 2029.
5:16 - Mettler highlights T5's presence in Chicago, previous and current projects in the area, and the region's favorable utility conditions, tax incentives, and the continuous growth of the market.
6:43 - Mettler outlines T5's model for building data center capacity, emphasizing flexibility, customer-centric solutions, and the importance of delivering on time to maintain customer trust and reputation.
8:51 - Further details on T5's 480 MW power delivery plan in Chicago are explored, involving potential for phasing up to 850 MW based on customer needs, and the attractiveness of the property due to high power demand.
16:39 - DCF Editor in Chief Matt Vincent raises the topic of sustainability, prompting Mettler to elaborate on T5's commitment to environmental stewardship, participation in reporting frameworks, and the challenges of balancing growth with green power limitations.
18:46 - Discussion targets exploration of various energy options such as nuclear, hydrogen, and natural gas, highlighting the industry's focus on meeting energy demands responsibly.
22:06 - The discussion expresses optimism about collaborative efforts across industries to address energy needs, particularly praising innovative "new" nuclear designs and emphasizing the potential of nuclear energy for a sustainable future.
26:07 - Mettler highlights T5s unique perspective in constructing and operating data centers for both owned and client-owned facilities, emphasizing the company's expertise and ownership mentality in delivering tailored solutions, especially in the context of liquid cooling and high power demands.
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About the Author
Matt Vincent
Matt Vincent is Editor in Chief of Data Center Frontier, where he leads editorial strategy and coverage focused on the infrastructure powering cloud computing, artificial intelligence, and the digital economy. A veteran B2B technology journalist with more than two decades of experience, Vincent specializes in the intersection of data centers, power, cooling, and emerging AI-era infrastructure. Since assuming the EIC role in 2023, he has helped guide Data Center Frontier’s coverage of the industry’s transition into the gigawatt-scale AI era, with a focus on hyperscale development, behind-the-meter power strategies, liquid cooling architectures, and the evolving energy demands of high-density compute, while working closely with the Digital Infrastructure Group at Endeavor Business Media to expand the brand’s analytical and multimedia footprint. Vincent also hosts The Data Center Frontier Show podcast, where he interviews industry leaders across hyperscale, colocation, utilities, and the data center supply chain to examine the technologies and business models reshaping digital infrastructure. Since its inception he serves as Head of Content for the Data Center Frontier Trends Summit. Before becoming Editor in Chief, he served in multiple senior editorial roles across Endeavor Business Media’s digital infrastructure portfolio, with coverage spanning data centers and hyperscale infrastructure, structured cabling and networking, telecom and datacom, IP physical security, and wireless and Pro AV markets. He began his career in 2005 within PennWell’s Advanced Technology Division and later held senior editorial positions supporting brands such as Cabling Installation & Maintenance, Lightwave Online, Broadband Technology Report, and Smart Buildings Technology. Vincent is a frequent moderator, interviewer, and keynote speaker at industry events including the HPC Forum, where he delivers forward-looking analysis on how AI and high-performance computing are reshaping digital infrastructure. He graduated with honors from Indiana University Bloomington with a B.A. in English Literature and Creative Writing and lives in southern New Hampshire with his family, remaining an active musician in his spare time.
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