Data Centre Plots $605m Roof Raise to Double Capacity

A data centre provider wants to raise the height of its inner-city centre and double its power capacity under a scheme now before the state. The $605-million proposal is to add two storeys to two buildings at the DigiCo SYD1 campus, Ultimo—formerly operated by Global Switch—at 390-422 Harris Street and 273 Pyrmont Street. On public exhibition until May 29, the project would raise the site’s IT load from 42.5MW to 88MW and increase the overall height by 12 metres. The campus spans a full city block between Harris, Pyrmont and Quarry streets, with the Western Distributor to the north. ASX-listed DigiCo Infrastructure REIT is leading the project. It acquired the site in late 2024 as part of a $1.9-billion portfolio deal. The development is being assessed as a state significant development. Plans include structural upgrades, installation of 24 diesel generators, reconfigured internal floor space, and new mechanical and electrical infrastructure. While gross floor area would reduce slightly due to plant requirements, the total buildable area would increase by 5600sq m. ▲ A DEM rendering showing the proposed extra height of the Ultimo data centre. Architecture firm DEM said the revised roof form was intended to express the building’s technical function rather than conceal it. “The proposed roof form will enhance the machine-like aesthetic of the existing SYD1 building and reflect the highly technical function of the facility when viewed from the city,” it said in planning documents. Structural changes would include reinforced columns and slab modifications to support the new rooftop plant. Cooling and power systems would be upgraded, with the facility targeting a power usage effectiveness (PUE) of 1.27—an 80 per cent improvement on the current 2.15 rating. Infrastructure would include high-efficiency chillers, waterside-free cooling, direct-to-chip server cooling and a real-time energy management system. ▲ DigiCo’s SYD1 East ( top ) and West buildings, viewed from the Western Distributor at Ultimo. A rooftop solar array with more than 100kW of installed capacity is also planned, with estimated annual output of over 125,000 kilowatt hours to be used entirely on site. The facility would operate fully on electricity under standard conditions, only using diesel generators in emergencies. The new units—bringing the total to 66—would be compatible with biofuels such as HVO. New planting, including a green roof and native species along Pyrmont and Quarry streets, is intended to reduce heat, support biodiversity and manage stormwater. “A design-led approach preserves the integrity of the existing built form while delivering improved energy performance, biodiversity and site amenity,” the documents said. ▲ The view from Darling Drive of existing SYD1E ( top ) and a rendering of the proposed two-storey expansion. Alternative sites were considered but ruled out due to land use constraints and emissions impacts. Consolidating operations at the existing campus was seen as a more efficient option aligned with planning goals for the Pyrmont-Ultimo precinct. “There are a limited number of sites in proximity to the existing facility that meet the spatial and strategic planning requirements of the proponent,” documents said. “The intensification of the existing data centre to provide additional capacity should be encouraged and be considered a better option than a ‘do nothing’ scenario.” The data centre would remain operational during construction. An Environment Protection Licence is not required, although generator use would be capped at 200 hours per year under EPA guidance. While not heritage-listed, the site is next to the Ultimo Conservation Area and within a precinct long associated with education, utilities and industry. ▲ An aerial view of the data centre site. Sydney Technical College—now TAFE NSW—opened nearby in 1892, followed by the Technological Museum a year later. The museum was later relocated to the Ultimo Power House, built in 1899 to power Sydney’s tram network, which became the Powerhouse Museum in 1988. The site block was once part of the Harris Estate, subdivided in the 1860s for housing and small factories. Rear lanes such as Schlinkers Lane provided access to workers’ cottages. ▲ Livingstone House, c.1913, once stood on the site now occupied by DigiCo’s SYD1 West data centre. While little of the original fabric remains, the site has long supported infrastructure and utility uses. Community feedback so far has been minimal. One resident registered for a consultation session and one formal submission has been received.

Data Centre Plots $605m Roof Raise to Double Capacity

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