Finance

AI Drives Demand for High-Tech Data Centers in the Commercial Real Estate Boom

Published March 1, 2024

In the vast and multifaceted world of commercial real estate, a new class of hot properties is emerging—data centers designed to house the powerful computing infrastructure needed to fuel artificial intelligence (AI). Once dominated by office buildings and retail spaces, the landscape is rapidly shifting towards these technological bastions. Data centers, which can be thought of as workforce housing for the servers and computers that power ongoing AI innovations, are in higher demand than ever before. This surge is being driven by the exponential growth in AI applications across industries, necessitating increased data storage and processing power.

The Rise of Tech-Integrated Facility Investments

As companies fiercely compete to lead in AI advancements, the pressure on ensuring their digital operations are seamless has led to a gold rush in constructing and upgrading data centers. Giants in the tech industry, like Alphabet Inc. GOOG—the parent company of Google—are driving forward with significant investments in this area. Alphabet Inc. is recognized as one of the world’s leading technology companies and commands a substantial presence in the global market.

Commercial Real Estate Adapts to Technological Needs

The data center boom extends beyond the tech companies themselves; it has also caught the sharp eye of real estate and investment management services, such as those offered by Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated JLL. With a global reach extending from the Americas to Asia Pacific, JLL acknowledges the shifting paradigm of real estate investment, where the digital infrastructure of data centers is becoming the cornerstone of savvy real estate portfolios.

Future Outlook: A Thriving Market for Data Centers

The commercial real estate market is poised to see continued growth in the demand for data centers as AI technology further entrenches itself in every facet of modern life. This trend suggests that those who invest in these tech-heavy properties—whether through direct investment or via stocks like GOOG and the real estate services of JLL—could find themselves at the forefront of a thriving sector as it shapes the future of digital real estate.

Investment, Technology, RealEstate