Digital Infrastructure: Meet Shabna Jobraj Hayes
In this Digital Infrastructure blog series, we’re highlighting our data center design, delivery and construction experts and how they are accelerating our clients’ digital journey in the market sector.
Shabna Hayes is a chartered electrical engineer with a rich background in technical fields, starting with her education in South Africa to her impactful roles in the UK. Shabna’s wealth of experience encompasses comprehensive mechanical, electrical, plumbing (MEP), civil, structural and architectural solutions. She is also a dedicated mentor and advocate for diversity and inclusion in the engineering field, actively participating in diversity and inclusion programs to inspire the next generation of engineers.
Tell us a bit about yourself – your role and career journey.
From a young age, I always knew I wanted to pursue a career in a technical field. At school in South Africa, I focused on technical drawing and electronics, reflecting my passion for engineering. I graduated with a degree in Electrical and Electronic Engineering and have a higher national diploma in Power Engineering.
After completing my studies, I joined KKA Consulting Engineers, where I learned the fundamentals of building services engineering. Moving to the UK, I spent nine years at Atkins, working on projects for BT and Crossrail, and also the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games for three years. I then joined WSP, focusing on data center projects. I’ve been with AECOM for the last five and a half years, where I’ve delivered multiple data center projects for many major global hyperscale clients.
I am part of AECOM’s technical practice network and mentoring programs, working closely with junior engineers, to provide guidance and support. I collaborate with our training teams to ensure we offer the best possible technical training opportunities for our engineering graduates. I am a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion, actively championing gender equality and equity through “She Builds”, Women’s Engineering Society (WES) and Infrastructure Masons (IMason), which promote women in engineering, construction and digital roles.
Talk to us about a technology or data center project that has impacted or been a major highlight of your career. How is it solving the challenges and issues our clients and communities are facing today?
One major highlight of my career was delivering a hyperscale data center for a global tech client. The complex project required adapting a standardized design to meet local codes and regulations across multiple countries. The key challenges included managing vendor engagement for critical equipment and ensuring a modular design that allowed for incremental expansion without disrupting operations. Using this approach allows for our clients to scale their data centers quickly to meet growing demands.
The project was also a great example of AECOM’s strengths in communication and global collaboration. Our team comprised experts from United Kingdom and Ireland, South Africa, India, and the U.S. to deliver comprehensive MEP, civil, structural, and architectural solutions for our client. This project not only enabled us to meet our client’s needs but also allowed us to demonstrate how modular data center designs can efficiently support rapid growth and technological advancements, addressing the evolving demands of our clients and communities.
How do you manage the balance between energy efficiency and maintaining high performance when it comes to data centers?
Balancing energy efficiency with high performance in data centers is challenging due to their inherent high-power consumption. We achieve this through several key strategies. We focus on efficient cooling systems to keep power usage effectiveness low. During site selection, we consider the availability of resources like electricity and water too so that strategies for zero generators and optimum cooling solutions can be provided.
We also implement waste heat recovery systems, repurposing the heat generated to warm nearby homes and facilities, thus improving overall energy efficiency. Integrating renewable energy sources where possible further supports sustainability and reduces the carbon footprint.
Higher-performing data centers naturally use more electricity, so it’s crucial to minimize mechanical cooling to maintain efficiency. Our goal is to ensure that any additional power consumption is balanced with efficient cooling solutions. By focusing on these strategies, we help our clients achieve high performance while minimizing cooling expenses and total operational costs.
What are the most significant trends and technological advancements currently shaping the data center industry?
The biggest trend shaping the data center industry today is the rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI). This technology is experiencing astronomical growth and is a major driver of change with a very steep, upward trajectory. As AI becomes is becoming more integrated into business operations, the demand for data processing power is increasing significantly. This results in processing racks now requiring higher power, leading to a substantial increase in kilowatts per rack.
We understand that for our clients with existing data centers to be able to accommodate this increased demand associated with AI, the infrastructure supporting data centers must also expand. This includes integrating potentially larger transformers and more robust power solutions to ensure that the additional space can be accommodated within the existing building footprint. These upgrades are necessary to handle the increased power needs brought on by AI. The consideration of the overall plant area necessitates careful planning to ensure that existing data centers can meet these new requirements.
For new data centers, this means going back to the drawing board to design facilities that can handle future AI demands. For existing data centers, it’s about finding ways to optimize and increase power output without limited expansion of the physical footprint. The challenge lies in the many unknowns surrounding AI’s future needs, making it extremely difficult for clients to plan and invest with certainty. AI is significantly impacting data center design and infrastructure, requiring both new and existing facilities to adapt to its growing demands. Embracing these advancements will be crucial for maintaining competitiveness and meeting the evolving needs of the digital age.