When Forbes recently published “Why Liquid Cooling for AI Data Centers Is Harder Than It Looks,” it might have struck a chord across the industry. The article highlights what many overlook: supporting modern AI workloads at scale isn’t just about adding more servers or chasing the latest chip. It requires an engineered data center infrastructure that includes advanced power distribution to specialized cooling systems, leak detection, and real-time operational monitoring.
And long before AI workloads became today’s headline story, we were already laying the groundwork for what high-density, high-performance computing would demand.
Pioneering High-Density Before It Was Cool
Back in 2007, when the data center industry average hovered well below 10 kW per rack, Markley was already supporting 22 kW per rack. At the time, this placed us firmly at the forefront of high-density computing. Delivering that level of power density wasn’t easy: it demanded advanced power designs, precision cooling systems that went beyond traditional air cooling, and a willingness to rethink what a data center could be.
This forward-thinking infrastructure enabled one of the nation’s leading universities to run data-intensive research poised to transform the pharmaceutical industry. By investing early in power and cooling capabilities, we helped unlock scientific breakthroughs that would have been impossible in a standard colocation environment.
Why Liquid Cooling Really Is “Harder Than It Looks”
The Forbes piece points out that liquid cooling while essential for AI clusters that can exceed 100 kW per rack, actually isn’t a simple bolt-on upgrade. It requires:
- Purpose-built mechanical systems
- Leak prevention and rapid mitigation strategies
- AI-driven controls and monitoring to keep heat under control
- An operational team skilled enough to manage all this complexity
At Markley, these aren’t theoretical hurdles. They’re challenges we’ve been solving, iteration after iteration, for nearly two decades. Our facilities have been designed, built, and continually upgraded to meet not just today’s requirements, but tomorrow’s.
Powering the Next Generation: 30 MW and Beyond
Today, Markley has completed a 30 MW installation at one of our facilities which is a testament to our commitment to stay ahead of evolving client needs. For perspective, that level of capacity requires:
- Meticulous power design and redundancy (2N, N+1) to ensure availability
- Best-in-class energy management and efficiency strategies
- Scalability so our clients can deploy AI, HPC, and even quantum workloads without disruption
All of this is backed by a team that’s on site 24/7, offering real-time monitoring, remote hands, and the expertise needed to keep mission-critical systems running securely and efficiently.
Why It Matters
It’s easy to talk about being “AI-ready.” The real question is whether your infrastructure is ready when it counts:
- Can your data center support true high-density racks today — not just in theory?
- Are cooling and power systems built to scale with unpredictable AI demand?
- Is there operational depth and real-time data to prevent downtime in the most critical workloads?
At Markley, the answer is yes. We’ve been building for this future since before most of the industry saw it coming.
Looking Ahead
As AI, HPC, and quantum computing reshape what’s possible, Markley’s mission remains unchanged: to give our clients the reliable, secure, and forward-looking infrastructure that keeps them ahead of the curve.
Whether you’re designing the next AI model or unlocking scientific discovery, you shouldn’t have to wonder if your data center can keep up. At Markley, we’re already there and ready for what comes next. Come visit us.
