Technology Sector Continues To Grow In North Dallas
The technology industry is growing in North Texas. Aligned Data Centers recently announced its plan to open a $300 million, 30-megawatt data center complex in Plano. This is expected to bring a new pay-for-use concept to the DFW Metroplex.
Construction was recently completed on the massive data center at 2800 Summit Ave. in Plano. The parent company, Aligned Energy LLC, located in Danbury, Connecticut, was one of the first company locations to come online in the United States. Of the 300,000 square foot facility in Plano, 100,000 square feet has recently been unveiled, and the remaining 200,000 square feet will be unveiled in the future.
"We really liked the Plano market. It's a very good market from a fiber and power perspective. It's a very strong data center market that's equidistant from coast to coast and easily accessible. The industry only turns out 30 to 40 percent of what they actually lease from a power perspective. We want to be the first data center provider to offer a model of having tenants pay for what they use, similar to the utility model," said CEO Jakob Carnemark in a recent Dallas Business Journal interview.
The Dallas Fort Worth Metroplex has seen large-scale data center projects come to fruition. Earlier this year, Facebook announced a $1 billion data center in Fort Worth (1.25 billion square feet) to handle the world's largest social media network of 1.5 billion active users.
With construction and expansion come job opportunities. Those with the education to meet the demands of these technological positions can be best poised for hiring. Pursuing a master's degree in a related field is also recommended in order to secure a more technically advanced or managerial job.
"By advancing my educational credentials, many doors were opened to me that would have otherwise been closed. Leadership is all about serving others and the more [knowledge] you have, the more you can give," said Ron Nieman, reflecting on his education in relation to his position at Sanford Rose Associates, an executive search firm for the telecommunications and IT industry.
Robin D. Everson is a native Chicagoan who resides in Dallas, Texas. Her appreciation for art, food, wine, people and places has helped her become a well-respected journalist. A life-long lover of education, Robin seeks to learn and enlighten others about culture. You can find her work at Examiner.com