Powering Sydney's digital future through precision delivery and adaptive reuse.

SHAPE was engaged by DigiCo Infrastructure REIT to deliver the 20MW Upgrade at DigiCo SYD1, a landmark data centre campus in Ultimo, less than one kilometre from the Sydney CBD. Rather than pursuing greenfield development, DigiCo chose to intensify and upgrade its existing campus across two buildings to more than triple total IT power capacity.

This adaptive reuse approach is increasingly recognised as the most sustainable path to new data centre capacity: extending the life of high-value infrastructure, increasing power usage effectiveness (PUE) through upgraded cooling and mechanical plant, and delivering high-density, high-performance capacity without the embodied carbon cost or land acquisition timelines of a ground-up development.

SHAPE is currently delivering the upgrade works programme across eight active levels of the campus, including 4 new data halls and 4 electrical and mechanical plant and equipment levels of the building. The works are due for completion in 2026. 

Precision sequencing in a live, mission-critical environment

The scope spans the full range of installations required to commission high-density data halls while maintaining operational continuity across an active campus, including:

• Mechanical services: Installation of a new chilled water system, Installation of Fan Wall Units within the data halls, new mechanical services to electrical switch rooms, generator rooms, and UPS and battery rooms.
• Electrical services: Installation of new 11kva transformers, installation of new static UPS systems with generator backup, installation of new electrical infrastructure inclusive of the Bus system to the new data halls.
• Fire services: installation of a new fire services including Pre action systems, Misting systems, and VESDA systems to FM global requirements.
• SCEC-rated wall and ceiling systems, HAC door installation.

Programme delivery has been staged across the eight levels, allowing lower floors to reach commissioning and rack population while construction progresses at pace above. Night works have been planned across bus duct and submain installations to accelerate programme milestones. Throughout delivery, our team has maintained proactive communication with DigiCo and the consultant group, keeping all stakeholders aligned across a complex, multi-trade programme running concurrently across multiple floors.

From enabling works to rack population and commissioning, DigiCo SYD1 is a live demonstration of what precision sequencing, proactive communication, and deep services coordination looks like inside one of Sydney’s most significant data centre expansions.