Data Center Architect - Construction

CBRE; United States; On-site; USD 120,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

CBRE is seeking a Data Center Architect with proven experience in data center building planning and design. The role serves as Owner's Representative across project lifecycles, guiding design teams and enforcing CBRE standards.

You will lead design reviews, coordinate across stakeholders, ensure life safety, egress, ADA compliance, and site layout for large-scale facilities, and develop campus planning templates and design guidelines.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Architecture or closely related field.
• 7+ years of experience in architectural design for large-scale industrial, commercial, or mission-critical facilities.
• Strong understanding of complex building systems including high-performance envelopes and life-safety assemblies.

Responsibilities

• Serve as Owner's architectural SME and advisor through all project phases.
• Collaborate with design consultants, construction managers, and general contractors to enforce Owner standards.
• Lead design reviews of architectural work packages focusing on life safety, egress, ADA compliance, signage, and site layout.
• Develop and refine architectural design guidelines, campus planning standards, and templates.
• Audit consultant deliverables at milestones and provide detailed reviews of Basis of Design and documentation.

Skills

Architectural design

Life safety

Structural coordination

ADA compliance

Education

Bachelor's degree in Architecture

Tools

BIM

Revit

Job description

About the Role

We are seeking a highly motivated Data Center Architect with proven experience in data center building planning and design.

What You'll Do

• Owner's Representative: Serve as the Owner's architectural SME and technical advisor through all phases of the project lifecycle.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with internal stakeholder groups, design consultants, construction management firms, and general contractors to administer design documents and enforce Owner standards.
• Design Oversight: Provide technical guidance and rigorous reviews of architectural work packages, specifically focusing on life safety/egress, ADA compliance, signage, site layout, and core data center building design.
• Standards & Innovation: Author and refine architectural design guidelines, campus planning standards, and prototypical building templates.
• Milestone Reviews: Audit design consultant deliverables at key milestones, providing detailed peer-review comments on Basis of Design (BOD), 30%, 65%, and 100% documentation.
• You will be responsible for authoring and reviewing a wide range of technical project documentation, including:
• Architectural Scopes of Work (SOW), design guidelines, and standard operating procedures.
• Comprehensive drawing markups, spatial fit-checks, and concept designs.
• Material substitution reviews and Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) architectural inputs.
• Building envelope specifications, submittal approvals, and construction punch-list resolutions.

What You'll Need

• Bachelor's degree in Architecture or a closely related design field.
• 7+ years of experience in architectural design, with a focus on large-scale industrial, commercial, or mission-critical facilities.
• Strong understanding of complex building systems, including high-performance building envelopes, structural coordination, and life safety/fire-rated assemblies.

Preferred Qualifications

• 10+ years of professional architectural consulting or design experience as an Owner's Rep.
• Direct design experience with data center infrastructure, command centers, or massive-scale utility yards.
• Proven experience managing large-scale campus master planning, site massing, and complex space-programming challenges.
• Advanced proficiency with BIM / Revit workflows for cross-functional model coordination and clash detection.
• Professional architectural registration/licensure (e.g., RA, AIA, or regional equivalent) is highly desirable.

Disclaimer

Please be advised that effective January 1, 2025, CBRE Project Management and Turner & Townsend will be consolidated into a single global business entity. As a candidate applying for a position, you should be aware that while your initial employment may be with CBRE Project Management, you will subsequently transfer to the newly formed entity that encompasses both organizations.