Dirt Meets AI: Building the Future of Data Centers at Scale | Alex Walker, Aligned Data Centers

In this episode of the Winner’s Circle, Russ Fordyce sits down with Alex Walker of Aligned Data Centers, a 2026 BIG Innovation Award winner, to explore what it takes to build the infrastructure powering the AI era. From major construction projects in Phoenix to the demands of hyperscale computing, Alex shares how data centers evolve from raw land into critical assets supporting global connectivity.Alex discusses her path from traditional construction into the fast moving data center space, where collaboration and speed are essential. She explains how projects must align real estate, engineering, and power availability often before a tenant is identified. Flexibility has become a core principle as AI workloads rapidly reshape infrastructure needs.The conversation dives into the realities of building at scale, from site selection and power constraints to evolving cooling strategies like liquid cooling at the chip level. Alex highlights that many of the biggest gains come not from radical redesigns, but from better coordination, earlier partner involvement, and stronger execution.Russ and Alex also explore the human side of infrastructure. Managing diverse teams requires a collaborative leadership style and the ability to navigate high pressure environments. Even in an AI driven world, success still depends on people across every phase of the project.Looking ahead, Alex shares how data centers are becoming more powerful and adaptable. As AI accelerates demand, designing for uncertainty while maintaining speed will define industry leaders. This episode offers a clear view into where construction meets cutting edge technology.Episode Chapters[00:01] Welcome and Introduction to Aligned Data Centers[01:04] From Warehouses to Critical Infrastructure[01:27] Inside the Data Center Construction Lifecycle[03:02] Why Data Centers Are a Team Sport[04:09] From General Contractor to Data Center Leader[06:28] Leading Cross Functional Teams Without Ego[07:52] Managing High Pressure Personalities in Construction[08:45] Site Selection, Power, and Design Strategy[10:45] How AI Is Changing Data Center Design[12:36] The Shift Toward Liquid Cooling[14:16] High Density Computing and the Future of Space[15:31] Innovation Through Better Collaboration[16:30] Prefabrication and the Next Efficiency Frontier[17:49] Old School Fundamentals That Still Win[19:22] The Future of Aligned and the IndustryKey TakeawaysCollaboration Is the Real Innovation: The biggest gains come from getting the right experts involved early and solving problems together.Flexibility Is Critical: Designs must adapt to unknown tenants and evolving AI demands.More Power in Less Space: Data centers are delivering greater compute density without massive footprint increases.Fundamentals Still Matter: Scheduling, safety, quality, and commissioning remain essential.AI Is Reshaping Infrastructure: Cooling, density, and power needs are rapidly evolving.