Advancing Edge Data Centers

Advancing Edge Data Centers is a three-day conference addressing low-latency and distributed compute infrastructure for artificial intelligence inference and regional edge applications. Organised by Advancing Construction, a Hanson Wade Group division, the gathering takes place December 7-9, 2026, at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel San Jose in San Jose, California. The event brings together over 21 speakers across edge developers, colocation operators, design engineering firms, general contractors, and enterprise end-users.

Programming Focus

• Identifying regional demand drivers, AI workload requirements, and high-growth edge markets
• Evaluating business models, ownership structures, and capital strategies across edge and distributed compute
• Modularization, prefabrication, and standardized deployment approaches to compress build schedules
• Power distribution and transition strategies to DC architectures for high-density AI infrastructure
• Onsite generation, microgrids, and behind-the-meter energy solutions amid grid interconnection backlogs
• Fiber interconnection, carrier hotels, and carrier-neutral meet-me rooms for latency minimization
• Cooling architecture design across air, hybrid, and direct-to-chip liquid cooling for edge facilities
• Brownfield redevelopment and repurposing underutilized commercial and industrial real estate

Featured Speakers

Developers, Operators, and Enterprise End-Users:

• Ari Weil, Vice President, Product Marketing & Cloud Evangelist, Akamai Technologies
• Michael Bailey, Data Center Architect, American Tower
• Chris Richards, Electrical Engineering Manager, Armada
• Carlos Rincones, Market Development Manager & Lead, AT&T
• Brian Etienne, Director of Development, Available Infrastructure
• Dan Medina, Executive Vice President of Strategy, Available Infrastructure
• Patrick Meagher, Vice President, Prototype Modular Data Center, Compass Datacenters
• Lee Angers, Senior Project Manager, EDGE Infrastructure Partners
• Craig Huffman, Chief Executive Officer & President, Metro Edge Development Partners
• Pawel Czech, Chief Executive Officer, NativelyAI
• Cole Crawford, Chief Executive Officer, NATIVX
• Joseph McLeod, Director of Data Center Design, RadiusDC
• Jared Benson, Director, Strategic Edge Infrastructure, SBA Communications
• Corey Dyer, Chief Executive Officer, ValorC3 Data Centers

Design, Engineering, and Construction Partners:

• Ameya Soparkar, Mission Critical Business Unit Lead, Arup
• Drew Thompson, Assistant Vice President of Data Centers, Black & Veatch
• Phil Fischer, Data Center Client Executive, Black & Veatch
• Bill Kosik, Mission Critical Sector Leader, HED
• Joshua Fernandez, Senior Project Manager, Data Center Commissioning, Ramboll
• Colleen Connolly, Partner & Chief Executive Officer, Scherer Design Group
• Joel Nickel, Head of Mission Critical, Shawmut Design & Construction

Who Should Attend

• Edge data center and colocation developers and operators
• Hyperscale, enterprise, and telecom infrastructure executives
• Mission-critical architects, structural engineers, and MEP engineering consultants
• General contractors and preconstruction managers specializing in modular builds
• Power, cooling, and critical infrastructure equipment providers

Logistics

• Venue: DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel San Jose, 2050 Gateway Place, San Jose, CA 95110
• Registration rates: Architecture, engineering, and contractor passes start at $2,099 for the two-day conference and $2,897 including the workshop day prior to October 16, 2026; general admission starts at $3,499 conference-only and $4,697 with the workshop day; complimentary passes available for qualified architects, data center operators, hyperscalers, and colocators

Related on Baxtel

• Advancing Construction
• San Francisco Bay Area