From brownfield to cloud: developing Google’s first owned data center in Germany
Located near one of Europe’s largest internet exchange points, DE-CIX Frankfurt, the Hanau site benefits from robust connectivity and strategic integration into regional digital infrastructure. Here, we supported the delivery of Google’s first owned data center in Germany.
The project combines brownfield redevelopment, hyperscale technical requirements, and defined sustainability targets. The facility expands Google’s existing cloud region and supports cloud workloads for major customers operating in Germany, forming part of the company’s European cloud network.
The site was previously used as a civil defense storage facility and required extensive redevelopment before construction could begin.
Working together with our sister company GARBE Industrial and additional project partners, the brownfield site was transformed into a logistics hall and a four-story data center. The project demonstrates how existing industrial land can be reused to support digital infrastructure while limiting additional land consumption.
Energy and resource efficiency were key design drivers throughout the project.
The building follows a modular design approach, enabling phased deployment and operational flexibility.
Cooling is based on a flexible combination of adiabatic and dry cooling modes. This approach balances efficiency, operational reliability, and long-term resilience against potential water scarcity risks linked to climate change.
The facility was designed to achieve strong seasonal Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE) and Water Usage Effectiveness (WUE) values.
In operation, energy consumption is matched with clean energy supply on a year-by-year basis, enabling carbon-neutral operation in line with the operator’s energy strategy.
Feasibility studies were also carried out to evaluate waste heat reuse for nearby industrial users, with the goal of extending sustainability benefits beyond the site itself.
The data center was designed to meet TIER III+ requirements and is fully concurrently maintainable.
High levels of prefabrication supported efficient construction, reduced on-site risk, and optimized long-term total cost of ownership.
The opening ceremony took place in October 2023, after which the facility entered operational service as part of Google’s cloud infrastructure serving the German market.
The project received the Brownfield24 Award (2021), recognizing its technical and environmental approach to site revitalization and infrastructure development.
The project demonstrates how digital infrastructure can be realized on existing industrial land while meeting clearly defined efficiency and sustainability requirements in a context of growing public and regulatory oversight.
Note: At the time of project delivery, the company operated under the name NDC-GARBE. It has since been rebranded as GARBE.DC.