Data Center POST had the opportunity to connect with John Bonczek, Chief Revenue Officer of fifteenfortyseven Critical Systems Realty (1547), which is a prominent player in the data center development, operation, and ownership landscape. As the CRO of 1547 for the last six years, John oversees the day-to-day sales and marketing operations, steering the company’s vision, mission, and strategy. John is a highly respected industry veteran with a reputation for successfully leading top sales organizations in the data center industry. In anticipation of PTC’24, John offers a compelling glimpse into his perspectives in the insightful interview questions below.
Data Center Post (DCP) Question: PTC’s Annual Conference is a strategic springboard for the global communications industry, and this year is no different. How is your business addressing AI needs, keeping in mind the upcoming rules and risks associated with AI?
John Bonczek (JB) Answer: As a data center provider, 1547 is working to stay ahead of the demand that AI is driving and how it is impacting supply for the rest of the data center buyers. AI is driving us to plan for greater power densities and alternative cooling solutions to meet its evolving requirements.
DCP Q: At PTC’24 there will be a few sessions focusing on the status and opportunities in the telecom market. From telecom equipment, services, and wireless communication, which area of the industry does your company focus on, and where do you see the industry heading in the next 5-10 years?
JB A: In regards to the telecom market, 1547 focuses on developing hubs for data interconnection and edge content distribution. The importance of carrier hotels and the role they play in telecom interconnection and content distribution will continue to grow, especially with the proliferation of AI and ever-increasing server compute capacity.
DCP Q: At PTC’24, on January 23, 2024, the Infrastructure Builders panel will discuss how the world will look in 2033 (10 years), when we are one-third of the way through the digital century. How are you approaching projects and planning for future growth with the shifting utilization of digital infrastructure?
JB A: In the data center and carrier hotel industry, customers and tenants are planning further ahead than ever before. 1547 continues to work with our customers and partners to understand what we should expect to see next in terms of power densities, network capacity requirements, and cooling solutions. It is important to stay out in front of the changing needs so that we can plan our design and build to meet these growing demands.
DCP Q: What core markets do you operate in and what are the key opportunities / challenges in these markets and how are you adapting to address them?
JB A: At 1547, our operational footprint spans across various key markets, including Hawaii (Kapolei, HI), the Northeast (Orangeburg, NY and Chester County, PA), the Pacific Northwest (Portland, OR), the Midwest (Chicago, IL, Milwaukee, WI, and Cheyenne, WY), and the Southwest (McAllen, TX). We’re continuously expanding our portfolio to adapt to the dynamic needs of businesses and organizations, staying responsive to their ever-evolving requirements. In these markets, we see plenty of opportunities as well as certain challenges.
When it comes to opportunities, the surge in AI and the ever-growing demand for content present remarkable opportunities for growth. Companies leveraging AI and distributing vast amounts of content rely on facilities like ours to satisfy their compute and power requirements while ensuring fast connectivity/reduced latency. As a company, we have a huge focus on acquiring facilities that not only seamlessly integrate with our existing portfolio, but effectively meet both current and anticipated future demands of IT leaders.
One specific challenge we’ve faced is designing modern data centers within buildings that sit in urban settings. Our Milwaukee facility, the historic Wells Building, is the perfect example of this. Converting this space into a modern data center hub required a delicate balance of preserving the architectural essence of a historic building while incorporating state-of-the-art infrastructure. To address this, our team embraced innovative design approaches, ensuring that the integration of modern technology was harmoniously woven into this classic architectural gem, respecting their heritage while meeting the demands of contemporary data center requirements.
DCP Q: PTC’24 is the 46th annual PTC Conference. During this four-day event, how can people meet or learn more about you (or after PTC’24 )?
JB A: If people would like to meet with us, they can schedule a meeting through our website: https://1547realty.com/meet-with-1547-realty-at-ptc24
DCP Q: What else would you like for our readers to know that you haven’t already shared about your company?
JB A: We are excited to share that we have a unique build-to-suit opportunity on a 100+ acre land parcel in Chester County, PA. With a minimum of 290 MW power commitment from PECO, zoning approval for two 1 MM sq. ft. data centers, and adjacent land available for development of up to 5 MM sq. ft. of data center buildings, Chester County is the perfect opportunity for power-dense customers that want to futureproof their operations.
To learn more about PTC’24, please visit: www.ptc.org/ptc24. The event takes place January 21-24, 2024 in Honolulu, HI – registration is still open for those interested in attending.
To meet with 1547 at PTC’24 you can request a meeting here.
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