Aligned Data Centers Aims to Change How Data Centers Are Cooled Amid AI-Driven Demand

PHOENIX, Ariz. (August 13, 2025) – Aligned Data Centers, a technology infrastructure company specializing in scalable, sustainable colocation solutions, has opened its first Advanced Cooling Lab at its North Phoenix campus in partnership with Texas-based DivCon Controls. The one-megawatt facility is designed to develop and test the company’s patented and patent-pending air and liquid cooling technologies to meet the high thermal demands of advanced GPUs, AI accelerators, and high-performance computing workloads.

The Phoenix-based lab showcases Aligned’s Delta Cube™ air-cooled system alongside its DeltaFlow~™ liquid-cooled system, creating a hybrid environment capable of removing the intense heat generated by advanced compute systems. This hybrid approach gives customers the flexibility to transition from air-cooled to liquid-cooled systems within the same data hall as IT densities grow.

“Aligned has been innovating data center cooling for more than a decade,” said Michael Welch, Chief Technology Officer. “The Advanced Cooling Lab is a testament to our commitment to delivering cutting-edge data center solutions and our passion for innovation. By investing in research and development, we can provide customers with the most flexible and advanced infrastructure available for dynamic AI workloads.”

DivCon Controls, also based in Texas, was selected to integrate control systems for the lab’s DeltaFlow units, enabling precise sequencing and operation of the cooling systems. “Our system holds the programming that controls the moving parts and processes of these new cooling technologies,” said DivCon President Todd Dempsey.

The Great Debate: Water-Cooled vs. Air-Cooled Data Centers
Industry-wide, air-cooled systems remain the dominant solution for data center cooling. However, as rack power densities rise to meet the demands of artificial intelligence and cloud computing, opportunities for liquid cooling adoption are increasing. Welch noted that liquid cooling — whether direct-to-chip, immersion, or hybrid — offers significant thermal advantages for high-density workloads. While immersion cooling faces scalability challenges, Aligned is prioritizing direct-to-chip and hybrid approaches to balance performance, efficiency, and deployment flexibility.

All of Aligned’s facilities across the Americas are “liquid cooling ready,” allowing customers to choose the cooling solution best suited to their workloads. “We expect a significant portion of demand to go toward advanced compute systems, and we are prepared for that shift,” Welch said.

The launch of the Advanced Cooling Lab comes amid heightened public scrutiny over data center development in Arizona, with concerns over water usage, energy demand, and noise. Several Valley municipalities — Mesa, Phoenix, Tempe, and Chandler — have enacted zoning regulations for future facilities, although enforcement measures for energy and water use remain limited.

Aligned operates three Valley campuses in Phoenix, Chandler, and Glendale. The company’s cooling technology and Adaptive Modular Infrastructure (AMI) design are aimed at reducing energy, water, and space requirements, enabling clients to scale sustainably while maintaining industry-leading Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE).

About Aligned Data Centers
Aligned Data Centers delivers innovative, sustainable, and adaptive Scale Data Centers and Build-to-Scale solutions for hyperscale, AI/HPC, and enterprise customers. Its patented cooling systems and intelligent infrastructure allow densification and vertical growth within the same footprint, improving sustainability, reliability, and cost efficiency.

For more information, visit www.aligneddc.com.