CONSTRUCTING AND PEOPLE

Brittany Miller, SVP of Construction at NTT Global Data Centers, shares insights into building data centres and developing people in a hyperconnected world

The world of data centres, their construction and development is closer to home than most assume. They form the foundation of our interconnected world, housing the very architecture that carves out our modern society.

We take a look at this foundation through the eyes of Brittany Miller, Senior Vice President of Construction, Engineering, and Supply Chain at NTT Global Data Centers.

With a remarkable professional journey and a wealth of experience in the industry, Miller shares valuable insights on the process of building and developing data centres, with a particular focus on cost efficiency, and brings a diverse background to her current role. Her journey began at Intel Semiconductor Company, where she gained invaluable experience in building chemical and gas fab plants across various locations worldwide.

Working in a rapid-paced and everchanging environment, Miller developed expertise in construction and supply chain management, successfully navigating complex, fast-paced projects while honing her skills in risk management.

After her time at Intel, she transitioned to the data centre industry, joining Microsoft in roles that involved both the construction and lease acquisition sides of the business. This diverse experience laid the foundation for her current position at NTT, which she assumed nearly three years ago with the aim of establishing a scalable delivery organisation.

NTT – a global technology giant

To provide context, NTT is a prominent Japanese-based global technology company, with over 150 years of aggregated corporate technology innovation under its umbrella and a strong presence in the global data centre industry.

NTT boasts an impressive network of data centres across North America, Europe, India, and APAC. Miller says that, “while the intricacies of NTT’s organisational structure are vast, for the purpose of this discussion, we will focus primarily on the data centre business segment.”

Cost efficiency in data centre construction

NTT is a company that’s actively focused on the pursuit of cost efficiency in data centre construction and development, as Miller highlights: “Given the capital-intensive nature of building data centres, it is crucial to manage costs effectively without compromising on quality or performance.”

Miller emphasises that a comprehensive understanding of different delivery models and effective risk management are essential in achieving cost efficiency. Drawing from her experience, she highlights the importance of strategic planning, meticulous project execution, and a relentless focus on scalability.

Under Miller’s leadership, NTT’s delivery organisation has experienced significant growth, quadrupling in size over the past three years. This expansion has been accompanied by the opening of new markets and the establishment of build-to-suit capabilities – solidifying NTT’s position in the Americas.

Achieving success in cost, schedule, scale, and supply chain Realising cost efficiency

When it comes to finding success in building and developing data centres, Miller highlights the importance of cost reliability. She explains that their journey began with a focus on standardisation. By understanding customer requirements and aligning them with their business model, they were able to standardise their product in the US. Starting with their Phoenix Campus project, they replicated the design across all sites, which not only provided a better understanding of costs but also allowed them to identify and implement cost efficiencies.

“Standardisation has been key in improving predictability, cost control and scalability, while still accommodating necessary design innovations to meet client demands,” she says.

Meeting schedule demands

Similar to their cost efficiency approach, Miller underlines the significance of standardisation in managing project schedules effectively: “By adopting a basebuild core design approach, we created the infrastructure necessary to deliver capacity in alignment with demand curves.

Brittany Miller

TITLE: SVP CONSTRUCTION AND CRITICAL FACILITIES ENGINEERING AND DESIGN

COMPANY: NTT GLOBAL DATA CENTERS

Brittany Miller leads new data center construction projects which feature global industry standards, multi-story buildings, and massive capacity.

Prior to joining NTT, Miller spent four years leading teams in Microsoft’s Cloud Operations and Innovation business unit, helping to meet the unique challenges of a rapidly growing global business. She led a team that was responsible for global program management and governance along with AMER lease execution.

Previously, Miller held multiple positions at Intel over her 10-year tenure there. She led a global team of supply chain professionals from setting construction delivery strategy through the execution of large-scale construction projects.