# Applied Digital’s Data Center Design for a 100 MW AI Factory Built from the Ground Up By Software And Technology · Published 2025-07-02 · Updated 2026-06-22 · Software & Technology on MarketScale Canonical: https://www.marketscale.com/industries/software-and-technology/applied-digitals-data-center-design-for-a-100-mw-ai-factory-built-for-ai-from-the-ground-up Creator hub: Applied Digital > AI workloads are redefining the limits of data center design and infrastructure. Legacy data centers, built for traditional co-location, cannot handle the density, thermal demands, or power dynamics of accelerated computing. The AI boom has upended the data center sector, forcing a rapid shift to liquid-cooled racks as facilities pivot from sub-10kW racks to… ## Key points - AI workloads demand innovative data center design and infrastructure. - Traditional data centers cannot meet the AI-driven density and thermal requirements. - Applied Digital is leading with a greenfield approach focused on sustainable, scalable data center solutions. Block Field AI workloads are redefining the limits of data center design and infrastructure. Legacy data centers, built for traditional co-location, cannot handle the density, thermal demands, or power dynamics of accelerated computing. The AI boom has upended the data center sector, forcing a rapid shift to liquid-cooled racks as facilities pivot from sub-10kW racks to 120kW racks. According to [NVIDIA’s 2025 GTC roadmap](https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/analysis/nvidia-gtc-jensen-huang-data-center-rack-density/?utm_source=chatgpt.com), the company is now targeting 600kW racks by the end of 2027—a dramatic escalation that demands a complete rethinking of infrastructure design. In this climate, starting fresh isn’t a luxury—it’s a requirement. So, how do you design an AI-first facility that can scale from 100 to 400 megawatts and stay relevant as the pace of innovation accelerates? Welcome to the first episode of [*Architects of Acceleration*](https://marketscale.com/shows/applied-digital/)—a five-part series from [Applied Digital](https://www.applieddigital.com/) that takes you behind the scenes of one of the most ambitious AI infrastructure projects in the U.S. In this premiere episode, host [Philbert Shih](https://www.linkedin.com/in/philbertshih/?originalSubdomain=ca), founder of [Structure Research](https://www.structureresearch.net/), sits down with [Todd Gale](https://www.linkedin.com/in/todd-gale-657a0023/), the Chief Development Officer, and [Brian Hasemann](https://www.linkedin.com/in/brian-hasemann-579193151/), the Design Services Manager at Applied Digital, to unpack the full design strategy behind [*Polaris Forge 1*](https://ir.applieddigital.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/124/2-7-billion-in-data-center-savings-new-applied-digital), a greenfield AI campus in Ellendale, North Dakota. Together, they walk through the blueprint, site selection, power procurement, and thermal architecture that shaped Applied Digital’s first 100 MW AI Factory. **What You’ll Learn in This Episode:** - **Why Applied Digital Built from Scratch**: A greenfield approach allowed the team to build around 1,000–1,500 watts/sq. ft. workloads and eliminate retrofitting compromises. - **Why Rural North Dakota**: Ellendale offers scalable land, renewable wind energy, free cooling climate conditions, and power pricing advantages ideal for AI workloads. - **How It Supports AI Workloads**: The facility is optimized for liquid cooling and purpose-built to host dense GPU clusters, including evolving rack-level demands. - **How the Campus Will Scale**: The site is designed to grow from 100 MW to 400 MW, with ELN03 and ELN04 incorporating lessons from the first build for even greater flexibility. Todd Gale is a veteran data center engineer and executive with over four decades of experience designing mission-critical infrastructure at a global scale. As Chief Development Officer at Applied Digital, he leads the strategy, design, and construction of next-generation AI data centers, including the Ellendale Campus, purpose-built for GPU workloads. Previously, he held senior roles at Flexential, Equinix (formerly Terremark), and AT&T, where he pioneered innovations in low Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) architecture, Tier IV-certified facilities, and hyperscale cooling systems. Brian Hasemann is Director of Data Center Design at Applied Digital, where he leads the development of mission-critical infrastructure for high-density AI workloads. With a background in mechanical engineering and project management, he has overseen major design efforts and facility assessments across data centers, hospitals, and large-scale commercial properties. Before joining Applied Digital, he held engineering and commissioning roles at EBI Consulting and Shire, bringing hands-on experience in HVAC, utility systems, and CMMS optimization across complex environments. *Article written by MarketScale.* Tags: AI campus, AI workloads, Applied Digital, Brian Hasemann, Data Centers, Ellendale AI Data Center, Philbert Shih, Polaris Forge 1, Todd Gale --- Source: MarketScale, https://www.marketscale.com/industries/software-and-technology/applied-digitals-data-center-design-for-a-100-mw-ai-factory-built-for-ai-from-the-ground-up. Published for AI indexing and citation; cite the canonical URL. Site guide for agents: https://www.marketscale.com/llms.txt