Rowan Digital Infrastructure

CUSTOMIZED, SUSTAINABLE DATA CENTER INFRASTRUCTURE

POWERING PROGRESS S U S TA I N A B LY On a mission to deliver customized, sustainable data center infrastructure for its hyperscale partners, Rowan Digital Infrastructure is redefining North America’s data center landscape. We sit down with Charley Daitch, CEO, who outlines the company’s latest initiatives and projects Writer: Lily Sawyer | Project Manager: Jakub Tyl

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ROWAN DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE TECHNOLOGY

O

ver the past five years, the North American data center industry has shifted dramatically.

Demand has surged, driven by artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and cloud workloads, pushing hyperscale operators to prioritize speed, sustainability, and scale.

Power density per rack has also increased, with many data center campuses in the US now exceeding 1,000 megawatts (MW).

“This growth creates opportunities for developers like us to lead with power-first strategies and turnkey solutions,” introduces Charley Daitch, CEO of Rowan Digital Infrastructure (Rowan).

On the other hand, Daitch notes how some of the challenges from five years ago still persist, such as utility interconnection delays, supply chain constraints, and escalating capital costs.

“These hurdles have opened doors for Rowan to innovate, such as creating bridging power strategies and green financing frameworks, accelerating delivery while enabling our customers to meet their aggressive climate goals,” Daitch insights.

Delivering customized hyperscale data center campuses through powered shell and turnkey models, Rowan’s services span site origination, permitting, energy and water infrastructure, sustainable engineering, construction, and

operations.

“We partner with the world’s leading technology companies to deliver the IT infrastructure they need to provide cutting-edge computing,” he shares.

Rowan’s customers are US-based Fortune 50 companies that provide internet and computing services used by hundreds of millions of people every day.

Since the company was founded in 2020, it has grown from just a handful of employees to over 125 across its headquarters in Denver, Colorado and an office in Seattle, Washington.

Across its portfolio, Rowan has more than 3.5 gigawatts (GW) in development, including active construction on projects representing

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1.6 GW across Frederick County, Maryland (MD); San Antonio and Temple, Texas (TX); and Boardman, Oregon (OR).

A SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE As a company which seeks to de-risk and deliver customized data center campuses for hyperscale partners efficiently and sustainably, Rowan prioritizes its customers as its ‘North Star’ – evident in every decision the team makes.

Meeting customer demand by planning ahead, the company eliminates the common barriers that typically delay hyperscale data center development, such as infrastructure constraints, regulatory hurdles, local opposition, and skilled labor shortages.

“We anticipate and address challenges early – conducting rigorous site evaluations to avoid environmental or permitting risks, engaging local stakeholders early on to ensure community alignment, and structuring financing and infrastructure plans to maintain accelerated project timelines,” Daitch tells us.

Rowan’s design and construction practices, meanwhile, reflect the same discipline. Each campus incorporates

“ I A M I N C R E D I B LY P R O U D O F T H E P R O G R E S S W E ’ V E M A D E FO R O U R C U STO M E R S I N A R E L AT I V E LY S H O R T A M O U N T O F T I M E ” – C H A R L E Y D A I T C H , C E O , R O WA N D I G I TA L I N F R A S T R U C T U R E

renewable energy access, water conservation systems, and materials strategies that reduce lifecycle carbon impact.

“By combining foresight, sustainability, and execution, we enable our hyperscale partners

to deploy capacity efficiently and reliably,” he adds.

As the company celebrates its fifth anniversary, Rowan is proud of this significant milestone, which reflects the resilience and ambition of the entire team.

ROWAN DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE TECHNOLOGY

“I am incredibly proud of the progress we’ve made for our customers in a relatively short amount of time,” Daitch reflects.

“For me, this anniversary isn’t just about scale – it’s about proving that sustainability and speed can coexist in hyperscale delivery.”

HYPERSCALE FUNDING Having recently secured over $3 billion in project financing for its flagship Bauxite data center campus, this major achievement validates Rowan’s model and sets the tone for nationwide growth.

The campus currently comprises three projects – Bauxite I, II, and III – all located within a 2,000-acre industrial development near Frederick, MD. Rowan’s Maryland campus is the state’s first hyperscale development and offers proximity to the world’s largest cluster of data centers in Northern Virginia. The site spans 2.2 million square feet and will deliver more than 630 MW across several phases.

The company secured the most recent round of financing under its new Green Finance Framework, rated as ‘Strong’ by Sustainalytics, a leading independent provider of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) research and ratings, underscoring the company’s commitment to sustainable growth.

“This project defines how Rowan works – transparent, collaborative, and focused on anticipating hyperscale partner needs,” Daitch shares.

From day one, the company has prioritized sustainability, pursuing building research establishment environmental assessment methodology (BREEAM) certification and embedding responsible resource management into every phase of the project.

“Bauxite also became a model for community engagement for us, with investments in local partnerships, workforce programs, and education initiatives,” he details.

SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE As a company that is always looking to its community partners to help identify initiatives that are important beyond data center project boundaries, Rowan invests meaningfully in local partnerships with intentional emphasis on empowering communities through technology.

This is why it has invested in two new Cal Ripken Sr. Foundation STEM Centers – one at Carroll Manor Elementary and one at Lincoln Elementary – as well as a Rowan Tech Lab at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Frederick County.

It also supports Frederick Community College through various means, like building out a new Trades Lab to help with electrician education and other training – all because the company deeply understands the importance of educating and inspiring the next generation.

Aware of the need to help build more housing in the areas where it operates, Rowan additionally supports Habitat for Humanity of Frederick County with both time and resources.

“For us, philanthropy means creating lasting value beyond the data center footprint,” Daitch surmises.

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As such, Rowan has built a strong coalition of support in the region that is helping it to lead the conversation around data center development.

“What began at Bauxite established the foundation for Rowan’s industryleading, community-driven approach to digital infrastructure.

“We’re now taking that model to other key markets across the country, starting with our hyperscale projects in TX,” Daitch adds.

With a focus on renewable power, water conservation, and efficient infrastructure, the Bauxite campus sets a new bar for sustainable delivery.

Boasting 100 percent renewable energy access, advanced cooling systems to cut water usage, and 6 | North America Outlook Issue 33

estimated energy cost savings of 16.7 percent versus the baseline, it offers a more sustainable option for Rowan’s hyperscale clients.

PROLIFIC PROJECTS Elsewhere, Rowan is developing a 300 MW hyperscale Temple data center campus in Central TX, which represents a transformative opportunity for the state.

“Beyond delivering more than 700 acres of hyperscale-ready infrastructure, we anticipate over 600 construction jobs and significant long-term tax revenue – a minimum $700 million investment in the region,” Daitch explains.

All told, this project is similar in

size and scale to the Bauxite projects, with more than $3 billion in planned investment.

This not only supports Temple’s growth as a digital hub but also positions Rowan to meet the scaling needs of hyperscale clients in a dynamic and expanding market.

Project Cinco in Medina County, TX, meanwhile, is a standout project for the company, with more than 300 MW currently under active development and over 600 construction jobs created.

“Our work here has been in close collaboration with local leaders, who have unanimously approved voluntary development agreements that really set the tone for how we’re building this capacity,” confirms Daitch.

ROWAN DIGITAL INFRASTRUCTURE TECHNOLOGY

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“ W E A I M TO B E T H E I N D I S P E N SA B L E PA R T N E R F O R H Y P E R S C A L E A N D A I I N F R A S T R U C T U R E O P E R AT O R S – D E L I V E R I N G S P E E D , S U S TA I N A B I L I T Y, A N D C E R TA I N T Y IN A MARKET DEFINED BY COMPLEXITY AND URGENCY” – C H A R L E Y D A I T C H , C E O , R O WA N D I G I TA L I N F R A S T R U C T U R E

The company is also advancing projects in OR and exploring expansion into emerging AI-driven markets.

“Each of our sites reflects our strategy – power-first, sustainabilityled, and meeting our customers where they need us most,” he says.

SCALING FOR THE FUTURE Looking ahead, Rowan’s focus is on scaling rapidly and strategically.

This involves expanding turnkey

and powered shell delivery while growing its pipeline to more than 7 GW across key US markets.

In just five years, Rowan has grown into a multi-billion-dollar platform with more than 3.5 GW in development.

Over the next five years, Rowan aims to further expand its global footprint and remain at the forefront of enabling efficient, resilient capacity for its hyperscale partners across key geographies.

“We’re deepening partnerships with hyperscalers and AI-first customers while continuing to make sustainability a core competitive advantage,” Daitch posits.

Indeed, international expansion and diversification into AI infrastructure are firmly on the horizon for Rowan.

As such, the next chapter is about disciplined growth and innovation.

“We aim to be the indispensable partner for hyperscale and AI infrastructure operators – delivering speed, sustainability, and certainty in a market defined by complexity and urgency,” he confidently concludes.

Tel: 971-219-5561 nbrown@rowan.digital

www.rowan.digital

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Tel: 971-219-5561 nbrown@rowan.digital www.rowan.digital

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