CyrusOne’s Intelliscale– Ushering in a New Era of Data Center Design to Support AI and High Density Computing Needs

The rise of ongoing data demand and its impact – for businesses and consumers – cannot be underestimated. From breakthroughs in science to managing large scale financial analytics, data centers are a powerful engine, providing the infrastructure to allow for vast amounts of data to be processed and analyzed. 


As with all technologies, there are many challenges, and high-density computing is no exception. Of primary focus for CyrusOne is responding to the need for more and better data centers to support the tsunami of AI and high-density computing needs.


But what is a high-density data center? In a more traditional data center, average rack densities are between 5 – 10 kW per rack. To manage the large amount of computing power needed in a high-density data center, average rack densities can be more than 50 – 300 kW per rack. These higher densities generate significantly more heat, which leads to more innovative thinking in cooling data centers.


For IT decision makers, this creates an impossible equation: How do you scale infrastructure when your current data center approach can't even handle a fraction of the load needed for high density computing?


To help solve this, the data center industry is racing to build data centers to support the massive acceleration of high density computing, and CyrusOne is leading the way with Intelliscale™. A state-of-the-art, data center solution, Intelliscale data centers can occupy just 25% of the space of typical data centers, depending on the application and needs. CyrusOne’s groundbreaking Intelliscale solution, designed for extreme dense deployments and capable of delivering 100-plus megawatts of power, offers seamless scalability, smooth operations, flexibility and reliability. 


In the first of a 3-part video series, get ready for an in-depth look at Intelliscale, beginning with "The High-Density Evolution" - exploring how we're redefining scalable data center design. Jim Roche, SVP of Engineering, breaks down how the industry's exponential growth has made conventional approaches inadequate and why Intelliscale represents a fundamental shift in data center design.


To build the right data center, you must understand your workloads. Ranging from data preprocessing and model training to inference and deployment in real-world applications, AI workloads are resource-intensive, requiring significant computational power, memory, and storage to handle large datasets and complex algorithms efficiently. Intelliscale was engineered with adaptability at its core – building infrastructure that can evolve with your changing needs without starting from scratch or facing costly downtime.


In part two of our Intelliscale deep dive: "Engineering for Adaptability" – Jim Roche, reveals how we're designing data centers that can pivot from air to liquid cooling, scale components seamlessly, and accelerate time-to-market through proven repeatability. Plus, discover how industry-wide collaboration is driving innovation that benefits everyone.

To succeed at delivering high-density data centers, you need to have a track record of proven capabilities, innovative thinking, and a look ahead to the future. At CyrusOne we are helping to solve some of the industry’s biggest challenges.


In the final part of the series, "Building on Proven Foundations," Jim Roche shares how CyrusOne is leveraging decades of engineering expertise, trusted technologies, and bold innovation to meet tomorrow’s demands. 
From bringing top-tier engineers in-house to mastering large-scale liquid cooling deployments, this episode explores how CyrusOne is creating future-ready data centers grounded in proven practices. Discover how visionary thinking and next-gen workloads are pushing us beyond traditional designs — and why CyrusOne is uniquely positioned to lead that evolution.

Learn More About Intelliscale

Want to learn more? We encourage you check out each video and get in touch with someone from our CyrusOne team today.

 

 

 

 

Summary

CyrusOne’s Intelliscale: Key Features

CyrusOne’s Intelliscale demonstrates that today’s data center design must work for today and be flexible enough to accommodate future demands. Intelliscale optimizes every aspect of data center design, from land use to mechanical and electrical efficiency. Notable features of Intelliscale include:

  • Intelliscale offers seamless scalability, supporting cabinets from 12-kilowatt to 300-kilowatt powerhouse configurations.  
  • It ensures smooth operations, even under the most demanding conditions accommodating power densities between 400 and over 2,000 watts per square foot for both current and future high-density needs.
  • Cooling is at the heart of Intelliscale’s innovation. As AI and other high-density applications demand more power, Intelliscale offers a range of advanced cooling solutions. Whether your deployment involves air-cooled servers or advanced liquid cooling, Intelliscale can support a mix of cooling strategies within the same facility.
  • The industrial scale cooling strategy exceeds today’s standards using larger, commercially available components to deliver CU capacities up to five times greater than traditional systems, ensuring efficiency and reliability.
  • The single-story layout of Intelliscale is designed for extreme density deployments, maximizing physical space and enhancing cooling performance.
  • Power is central to Intelliscale’s architecture with facilities ranging from 21 megawatts to over 100 megawatts. The system delivers efficient operation across different densities, ensuring scalability and cost efficiency.
  • Flexibility is built in. Even during construction, Intelliscale can adapt to evolving requirements. This innovative design allows for operational adjustments when needed.