ABI Research forecasts that global data center thermal cooling demand will grow nearly sevenfold from 28.8 million tons

As artificial intelligence adoption transforms commercial infrastructure, global technology intelligence firm ABI Research projects that data center thermal cooling requirements will increase from 28.8 million tons in 2025 to 194.6 million tons in 2035. This represents a 20.1 percent compound annual growth rate and highlights cooling as a strategic priority for both smart buildings and AI infrastructure. Building owners are increasingly focusing on interoperable platforms, predictive maintenance, and AI-driven automation to lower operating costs, enhance resilience, and manage aging assets.

Paris McKinley, a research analyst at ABI Research, stated, Smart buildings are no longer defined by how much data they collect, but by how effectively that data is turned into operational action. She added that as labor constraints, energy costs, and sustainability pressures intensify, operators seek solutions that unify fragmented systems, support AI decision-making, and deliver measurable portfolio outcomes. The report indicates that data center facility space will expand from approximately 2 billion square feet in 2025 to over 5 billion square feet in 2035. Higher rack densities are pushing the industry toward liquid-ready and hybrid cooling architectures, while AI enables predictive cooling, workload balancing, and automated controls. In the wider commercial sector, retrofit-friendly technologies like wireless sensors, cloud software, and minimally disruptive controls are gaining popularity as owners modernize existing infrastructure without full replacements.

The broader smart building market is shifting from hardware-only differentiation to software platforms, recurring services, and AI-enabled management. Recent industry activity illustrates this transition, including Johnson Controls acquiring Nantum AI and Alloy Enterprises, Siemens expanding its Building X and fire safety portfolios, and Honeywell advancing cloud-native security and AI analytics. ABI Research also pointed to real-world applications such as CoreWeave and Applied Digital deploying AI-optimized cooling infrastructure, alongside Amazon rolling out heat pumps with Transaera. Looking ahead, McKinley noted, Over the next 24 months, the competitive edge will come from repeatable deployment models, strong data readiness, and the ability to scale proven use cases across buildings and portfolios. Vendors and operators investing now in interoperability, standardized data models, and AI-ready workflows will be best positioned to transition from reactive management to predictive and autonomous operations. These insights originate from ABI Research Smart Buildings Semiannual Update: 1H 2026. The firm serves as a bridge between technology providers and end-market companies, offering exclusive research and expert guidance to drive successful implementations and customer retention strategies. For further details, contact can be made via +1.516.624.2500 in the Americas, +44.203.326.0140 in Europe, or +65.6592.0290 in Asia-Pacific, or by visiting www.abiresearch.com. Media inquiries should be directed to Jason Scheer at +1.516.624.2558 or pr@abiresearch.com.