5 Key Data Center Trends from DCW 2025
The Purkay Labs team recently returned from Data Center World 2025 in beautiful Washington, D.C. Across dozens of sessions and conversations, one message came through loud and clear: The future of data centers will be shaped by how well we manage rack density, cooling, and power—not just how fast we build.
Here are five key insights for facility managers and operators:
1. Rack Densities Are Rising Fast—and They’re Not Slowing Down
Driven by AI workloads, average rack densities are increasing from 5kw to 16kW today, with planning underway for 60-100kW+ racks required to support AI.Operators who want to stay ahead need to focus now on improving airflow and cooling strategies. High-density racks will become standard, not an exception.
2. Cooling Capacity Is the Primary Bottleneck
64% of data centers are running out of cooling capacity. In addition, some surveys indicate there is 37% of stranded capacity through out the data center industry. Space isn't the constraint—thermal management is. Improving airflow and rack-level uniformity offers a faster, more cost-effective path to scaling operations than major mechanical overhauls.
3. Liquid Cooling Is Growing—But Air Cooling Isn't Going Anywhere
Despite all the attention on liquid cooling, it’s still early. Only about 5% of data centers have adopted liquid systems, and even these often rely on hybrid air-liquid setups. Challenges like leaks, maintenance complexity, heavy infrastructure, and insurance limitations mean air cooling will remain essential for the majority of facilities for years to come.
4. Local Power Sourcing Will Define the Next Wave of Growth
Grid limitations are creating deployment delays. More operators are turning to on-site power generation. We heard talks about geothermal (Google), hydrogen, small nuclear reactors (SMRs) to even stranded natural gas —to ensure availability and future-proof their expansions. The problem is many of these solutions are 5-10 years away and the cost is unclear in this current climate.
5. Operational Validation Matters More Than Ever
It’s no longer about simply constructing facilities—it's about operating them efficiently. Validating rack-level airflow, cooling performance, and density readiness is now mission-critical. Tools like AUDIT-BUDDY are increasingly valuable for quickly identifying cooling gaps before problems impact uptime.
Bottom Line:
As rack densities rise and cooling capacity tightens, the speed and accuracy of validation will separate successful operators from the rest. At Purkay Labs, we’re committed to helping data centers stay ahead—with practical, field-ready tools designed for the real-world challenges ahead.
Ready to stay ahead of the next wave of cooling and airflow challenges?
Contact Purkay Labs today to learn how AUDIT-BUDDY can help you validate your rack-level airflow, optimize cooling performance, and future-proof your operations.