Data Center Construction
Anfra – Data Center Builder in Finland and Sweden
Constructing a data center in extreme northern conditions requires a partner with a proven track record in demanding projects. Anfra specializes in massive-scale foundation and concrete construction in environments where frost, freezing temperatures, and rapid weather fluctuations pose exceptional challenges. We understand the stringent safety and durability criteria of critical infrastructure and can scale our resources to meet the demands of even the largest data center complexes from start to finish.
Data Center Construction in Northern Conditions
The changing northern weather is never a surprise or a schedule risk for us—it is a carefully controlled part of our production process. We plan every work phase by strictly anticipating the elements and utilizing continuous weather monitoring on our sites. Thanks to this proactive condition management—such as the timely optimization of winter concrete pouring, soil replacement, and frost protection—we guarantee that the work progresses according to strict quality standards and that even the tightest project schedules are met, regardless of the weather.
We provide comprehensive execution with proven northern expertise:
- Massive earthworks: Management of demanding soil conditions, excavations, and extensive groundwork.
- Foundations and concrete structures: Weather-resilient equipment and building foundations, executed flawlessly even in harsh winter conditions.
- Critical energy infrastructure works: Earthworks and concrete construction required for substations, grid connections, backup power systems, and cable routes.
- Security and protection: High-security fencing, access control zones, and massive firewalls to ensure the physical integrity of the site.
- Condition-optimized coordination: Seamless integration of geotechnical and structural engineering with other technical plans and weather-synchronized production.
Why is Anfra a cost-effective partner for your project?
Take the fast lane. We mobilize on-site within 2 weeks of contract signing. Our integrated approach combines geotechnical engineering, structural design, and civil contracting into a single, seamless agreement. You rapidly receive a mass balance plan, preliminary geotechnical engineering, a bill of quantities, and a contract proposal with budget pricing. The designs required to initiate work are already 90% complete.
We have executed complex civil engineering projects at Finland's major data center sites. Our management systems and HSEQ protocols are optimized to fulfill the strict demands of critical infrastructure projects.
A unit price list guarantees competitive pricing
Rapid execution generates savings in interest costs
High-quality engineering minimizes change orders
A single supplier eliminates coordination costs
Download the unit price list
We want to make project budgeting as easy and transparent as possible for you. We are so confident in our competitiveness that we provide our pricing directly for your review. Download the list and see our cost-efficiency for yourself.
Download starts automatically after submitting. The material comes as an Excel sheet.
FAQ: Contract Models
For what kind of situation is the Design & Build model the best choice?
Design & Build (D&B) is a seamless, fixed-price contract that combines design and infrastructure construction into a single entity. This is the most efficient choice when the project scope is strictly defined and cost certainty is your top priority.
The more of the following criteria are met, the better the Design & Build model suits your project:
Clear source data and requirements: Determining a target price is only possible when the project's constraints and goals are strictly defined right from the start.
Completed geotechnical investigations and load data: Incomplete geotechnical data or missing load calculations prevent reliable price estimation.
Stable project scope: The model is not suitable for projects where significant changes are expected, as genuine competitive bidding for change orders is challenging after the fact.
Contractor selection based on budget price: On a tight schedule, obtaining comparable bids is difficult, as it would require strong design expertise from all bidders already during the tender phase.
What if we have already selected a structural designer, is D&B possible?
No worries – we can still collaborate!
Even if a structural designer has already been selected for the project, we can still offer a seamless partnership. We have excellent experience collaborating with numerous different design agencies.
How our collaboration works:
1. Sharing design responsibility is effortless
We have experience from multiple projects where we collaborate with large international consulting firms. In major projects, design work is always handled by multiple parties, and we are more than happy to be a part of that team.
2. We bring our core expertise to your project
Design responsibility can be optimally shared. We provide the greatest added value to the project as experts in geotechnical and foundation design.
3. Responsibility for design accuracy
Your selected structural designer will act as the principal structural designer for the project, but we take full responsibility for our own design work. We will deliver our validated calculations to the principal structural designer in the agreed format. We have successfully applied this operating model in hundreds of projects.
Next step: Contact us and tell us about your situation. Let's discuss together how we can best support your project.
What if our structural designs are already complete, is D&B possible?
Completed structural designs are an excellent starting point! When structural designs are already complete or nearly complete, the project parameters are easy to define and bind to the D&B (Design & Build) model. This creates a strong foundation for successful collaboration.
Here is how it works with us:
1. Bid calculation based on our own design
Give us permission to calculate an offer utilizing our own structural design. We use the existing plans as a baseline and optimize the structures with a focus on cost-efficiency.
2. Work already done is not wasted
No need to worry, even if we partially redesign the structures – we are able to utilize the existing plans, and the best solutions are always retained. The work already completed does not go to waste; rather, it serves as an excellent foundation for optimization.
3. Significant savings
You will likely achieve significant savings compared to the original plan. Optimized structures that account for efficient execution not only bring cost savings but also shorten the project's lead time.
Next step:
Contact us, and we will evaluate your project together. We will prepare an offer that utilizes the completed plans and guarantees you the best possible outcome.
What are the benefits of a unit price contract?
If a strict D&B model doesn't match your project's current readiness level, this collaborative model is the right solution. We define clear target costs together and share the achieved savings fairly. This aligns our goals with yours, ensuring transparency and mutual benefit. It's a win-win!
Preliminary bill of quantities
We prepare a detailed preliminary bill of quantities, which serves as the foundation of the project and the starting point for all calculations.
Savings sharing
Savings are generated through efficient structures and expert execution. When we beat our targets and achieve savings, we share the benefit fairly: 30% to Anfra, 70% to the client. A genuine win-win situation for both parties.
Open specification principles
All specifications and calculation bases are open and transparent. This establishes the project's target level against which success is measured.
Schedule bonus
Together, we define the project's target schedule. Completing the project ahead of schedule typically results in a bonus, while delays incur penalty fees.
Is it possible for us to choose a unit price contract without a target price?
It is possible! However, we see the target price primarily as a benefit to the client, one that drives us to deliver even better performance.
A target price enables contractor-led design
In a unit price contract with a target price, the client can confidently hand over structural design responsibilities to the contractor. The contractor has a genuine incentive to optimize and lighten structures—unlike in a traditional unit price contract, where the contractor benefits from increased quantities.
Without a target price:
-No incentive to optimize structures
-Contractor benefits from larger quantities
-Final price can be a surprise
With a target price:
✓ Win-win incentive system for savings
✓ Joint optimization of structural efficiency
✓ Costs are transparent and predictable
Does a target price complicate a unit price contract?
For additional and change works, their impact on the target price must always be assessed. Changes complicate a project regardless of the contract form or model. However, our target price model includes a clear process for change management, which ultimately makes the contract model even clearer than a traditional unit price contract.
Our Three Promises
Design Promise
We account for structural constructability, cost-efficiency, and schedule
- Eurocode-compliant design
- Structural utilization rate of 75–90%
- Design schedule synchronized with production
- High-precision BIM modeling
Schedule Promise
The fastest operations on the market
- Visual 3D scheduling
- Real-time monitoring
- Proactive communication
- Proactive risk management
Price Promise
Budget price in up to 5 days
- Based on an open unit price list
- Fully transparent pricing
- No hidden costs
- Rapid binding quotation
Leave geotechnical engineering and structural design to us
Our own In-House Engineering Department is responsible for the geo- and structural design of data centers. The structural design of data centers is always done on a site-by-site basis to ensure that the end result is both secure and cost-effective. High-quality design ensures smooth implementation and a long service life.
Our structural design for data centers takes into account critical factors such as high point and live loads, vibration and settlement risks, structural fire resistance and safety, as well as the capacity for future expansions.
High-quality and meticulous design lays the foundation for smooth construction, cost-efficiency, and the uninterrupted operation of the data center.
References
AIRPORT TECHNICAL BUILDING
We provided structural design services for the airport's technical building. The structures include both cast-in-place concrete and pre-cast elements.
Akkula Big Battery BESS 62,5 MW / 231 MWh + Substation
Anfra is delivering a turnkey BoP (Balance of Plant) contract for the Akkula Big Battery BESS project. The contract includes both eBoP and cBoP.
Foundations and civil works for the BESS site
We delivered the civil engineering works for a BESS site in Oulu at Oomi Solar’s 4.5 MW / 9 MWh facility. The contract included the design and construction of concrete foundations for battery containers, construction of the transformer container’s concrete foundation, civil engineering, and the installation of grounding copper wires.
GIS (Gas-Insulated Substation)
GIS Substation, Structural Design: Two-storey substation, piled foundation slab, pre-cast concrete walls, etc.
5-story electrical substation
Structural design of a substation. A modern five-storey substation building with a column-and-beam structural frame. Learn more about Anfra’s structural design expertise!
Civil works and foundation contract for a GIS substation
We provided the structural design, earthworks and foundation works for a GIS substation constructed inside a cavern. Building within the confined space required careful planning and coordination at every stage of the project. Our scope included all steel and concrete structures for the GIS substation and their...
HSEQ in Data Center Projects
In the demanding and fast-paced environment of data center construction, uncompromising safety and quality are fundamental prerequisites for a project's success. At Anfra, our operations are founded on HSEQ quality backed by certified systems, along with a success-driven HSEQ policy and shared values that foster an exceptionally strong safety culture on our sites. We bring full visibility to data center project management: transparent and real-time monitoring combined with systematic processing and reporting ensure that the client is constantly up to date on the project status and that site safety remains aligned with the highest industry standards.
Health, Safety, and Environment (HSE)
- HSE plan – safety first
- >1 observation / 40h, 90% of corrective actions closed within 5 business days
- RAMS (phase-specific risk assessment)
- Work permits and practices, especially for high-risk work phases
- TBTs (Toolbox Talks) at agreed intervals
- Clear environmental and safety objectives
Quality
- Quality plan (incl. quality risk assessment, quality assurance process, and inspection and test plans & reports)
- Clear protocols and documentation
- Transparent deviation handling (non-conformity management)
- Lessons learned within 7 business days
- Material traceability
Certified systems
Transparent and real-time monitoring
Processing and reporting
Contact our experts to discuss the optimal scope of delivery for your project!
We are active in the design, construction and civil engineering of data centers in Finland and Sweden.
Anfra's activities are based on ISO 9001 -quality system, ISO 45001 -an occupational health and safety system; and ISO 14001 environmental management system.
Start your project with Anfra
We offer a streamlined path from inquiry to site mobilization. Send us your preliminary project plans, and you will receive a contract proposal, budget price, and mass calculations.
1. Contact us
Fill out the contact form, and we will respond within two working days.
2. We review your preliminary plan
We offer a free consultation: we analyze your project plans and map out the requirements.
3. We execute a mass balance assessment and preliminary geotechnical design
We create the technical groundwork for the optimal implementation of the project.
4. We prepare bills of quantities
A detailed bill of quantities covering all project components.
5. We provide a fixed or target price quote
We have a transparent pricing model that includes a unit price list and schedules.
6. The client requests comparison quotes
We support fair competition. We understand that the client may also request quotes from other suppliers.
7. Negotiations and contract
Together, we agree on the terms, milestones, bonuses, and the target price. Our goal is a win-win solution!