GARBE Week: What we’re taking with us

Written by Agnese Barazza
Senior Marketing & Communication Manager

17-19 June 2026 – Under the motto “One GARBE – Connect, Learn and Grow”, 500+ GARBE colleagues from across Europe, the US, the Middle East and Asia came together in Hamburg. In an organization that spans more than 21 offices worldwide, moments like this are rare. And that is what made GARBE Week so special.

Here are a few numbers:

3 days
27 presentations
13 workshops
80 speakers
350+ post-its on the GARBE Vision Wall
163 selfies with Sustaino
“Nice to finally meet you in person” said approx. 267 times
“You are taller than I thought” said 98 times
“Let’s definitely follow up on this” said too many times to count.

But numbers only tell part of the story. What really stayed with us were the connections, the curiosity, and the willingness to learn, ask questions and, why not, look for some of the answers together.

Seeing the bigger picture

During GARBE Week, we experienced firsthand what being part of GARBE actually means. What is often presented in decks and organizational charts came to life through the people behind it.

We had the opportunity to step outside our own bubble and connect with colleagues from different markets and asset classes. It was interesting to see how many of the challenges we face are actually similar and how much potential there is in sharing perspectives across the business.

“As a new joiner, GARBE Week was like a fast track into both the company and the GARBE world. It helped me see how the different pieces fit together.”
Hanna Dörsam, Junior Financial Controller

Our approach – Land, Fund, Develop, Partner – starts with our own team. We bring experience from across the data center sector, from hyperscale and colocation to design, construction, and consultancy.
GARBE adds another layer of value: local market knowledge, established relationships with investors and authorities, and access to professionals who are already active and connected where we want to be. This allows us to move faster and further than we could on our own.

“GARBE Week really gave a glimpse of how much more is possible when we collaborate across the different companies and create space to exchange ideas and experiences.”
Max Adams, Commercial Director

As it was often said during the week, we are not separate entities: we are a Team of Teams.

Sharing what we do…. and hearing what others think

GARBE Week was also an opportunity to present our work and explain what we build, how we do it, and why it matters.

When you are deep in your day-to-day work, surrounded by industry peers, it is easy to forget that data centers are not necessarily visible or easy to understand for everyone.

That is why, during one of our workshops, we asked a simple question: What comes to mind when you hear “data center”? Two themes stood out: energy consumption and AI.

If you think about it, these two topics represent opposite ends of the same story.
The first one is a prerequisite. Data centers require energy, and that is not going to change. What we can do is continue improving efficiency and finding smarter, more sustainable ways to manage it.
The other is one outcome, what data centers enable. And this is where, in my view, we as an industry still have work to do.

Beyond that, people mentioned infrastructure, connectivity, land availability, costs, water usage, and heat reuse. Exactly what you might expect from real estate professionals who follow the news. The exercise confirmed how little visibility there is into the broader role data centers play, which is not surprising given that our industry has traditionally been very secretive.

Why this exercise was valuable

For us, understanding perception is part of the job. As developers, we constantly interact with cities, policymakers, and communities to educate, address concerns, and build trust. It is essential not only to explain what and how we are building, but also why it matters for the digital economy, for growth, and for all the services and technologies that quietly support our daily lives.

“The questions that came up during the week were very similar to the ones we receive from authorities or during public hearings in Germany.”
Olga Khyzha, Project Manager

Beyond the workshops

Not everything happened in meeting rooms. At some point the laptops closed and the GARBE Cup started.

50 teams competed against each other bringing the concept of “blood, sweat and tears” to the next level. LEGO cars, archery, curling, grass skiing,… a mix of strategy, competition, chaos, and laughs that build relationships that go beyond working together.

What do we take home?

GARBE Week was intense, inspiring, and a reminder of what can happen when people come together with curiosity and an open mind.

For us at GARBE.DC, it reinforced something simple: We have a strong dedicated team, but we are part of something much bigger. An ecosystem that gives us reach, opportunities, and, above all, great people to build with. That is what makes all the difference.