C A S E S T U D Y
What are the construction and social challenges BBI faces with building dense, in-city facilities and how is it navigating these on projects like the Goodman data centre in Sydney?
The Bouygues group has built and is building numerous data centres in dense urban environments. This is particularly the case in the Paris region and in Hong Kong, but also in Sydney, where we are currently building a data centre for Goodman in an industrial area. The challenges are technical and operational.
We are experienced in delivering projects on constrained urban sites, where management of logistics and the coordination of multiple concurrent activities are essential. We place particular emphasis on the planning, methods and phasing of the works to ensure smooth delivery and minimise impact on the neighbourhood. This is the same disciplined approach we apply when building adjacent to any live operational facilities.
It is also essential to engage and liaise with local communities and stakeholders in a meaningful way, which needs transparency and clear communication to address any concerns relative to the construction process.
In planning and carrying out the construction phase, our guiding principle is: are we acting as a good neighbour? This means minimising transport movements, dust and noise and any disruption to the communities hosting a data centre.
What sustainability considerations come into play with data centre construction projects?
BBI is currently building the Goodman SYD01 data centre in Sydney
We leverage our in-house engineering expertise to propose design optimisations that reduce material use and increase offsite construction. We prioritise low-carbon and circular materials, such as low-carbon concrete, recycled steel and timber for front-of-house and office areas and use life cycle assessments to identify and recommend low impact solutions to clients.
In close collaboration with clients and their designers, we also optimise energy and water consumption, improving operational efficiency while supporting the long-term economic viability and social acceptance of data centre infrastructure.
In addition to our ISO 14001( Environmental Management), ISO
9001( Quality Management) and ISO 45001( Occupational Health and Safety) certifications, our in-house label, TopSite, whose final approval lies with our clients, recognises projects that exemplify our ESG commitments. More than 80 projects across five continents, including data centres, have been certified.
How can construction partners help data centre developers and operators mitigate obsolescence risk, including the design flexibility built in during the construction phase?
As technology evolves at an unprecedented pace, one of the biggest challenges for data centre developers is ensuring that facilities remain adaptable
Sustainability is a key priority for Bouygues Bâtiment International and we are fully committed to decarbonising our activities. This commitment is reflected in two 2030 targets, based on a 2021 baseline: a reduction of 40 % of absolute emissions from our worksites and offices for Scope 1 and 2, and a reduction of 30 % in intensity for Scope 3, primarily from construction materials and operational energy.
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