Powerhouse Strengthens Leadership Team

‍Leader in Hyperscale Data Center Development Expands Leadership Team, Appoints Karen Petersburg as Vice President of Data Center Development and Construction

McLean, VA – October 24, 2023 – PowerHouse Data Centers, a leading real estate partner for next-generation hyperscale data centers and division of American Real Estate Partners (AREP), announced the appointment of Karen Petersburg as Vice President, Data Center Development and Construction. With over 17 years of procurement, design, sustainability, and project management experience in the mission critical sector, the move adds even more data center construction strategy and commissioning capabilities to PowerHouse Data Centers’ best-in-class team.

“PowerHouse has established a team of innovative and highly strategic practitioners, to which we credit our fast rise in the industry and recent major successes,” said Douglas Fleit, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of PowerHouse Data Centers. “Adding Karen’s expertise and dynamism further expands the strong leadership capabilities that give us our competitive edge.”

Petersburg brings a fully integrated skillset, combining proven technical and enterprise leadership experience to PowerHouse. She has built her career managing complex data center design and engineering projects, from hyperscale built-to-suits to major infrastructure renovations. Recognized for her exacting process and quality standards, Petersburg successfully developed and led cross-functional global teams focused on sustainability, end-to-end process efficiency, and design alignment programs. Petersburg approaches data center development holistically, from concept through commissioning and turnover, to ensure seamless speed-to-market.

Her recent high-profile projects include transforming the iconic Toronto Star building and printing facility into a modern, LEED Silver multi-story colocation data center. Featuring 46 megawatts, the renovation makes the facility one of the largest in Canada. Another is a large-scale land development project near Dulles International Airport in northern Virginia that, when complete, will provide over one gigawatt of available capacity and over 7 million square feet of new data center space, becoming the world’s largest multi-tenant data center campus.

“The data center sector is at a crossroads in terms of technological advancement, sustainability, and exponential growth. I joined PowerHouse because they have positioned themselves as a leader in the hyperscale and AI space, proving themselves to be the powered building solution for our connected future,” says Petersburg. “I couldn’t be more excited to join such a talented and experienced team.”

As an active member in the data center industry, Petersburg’s commitment extends beyond each project. She serves as president of the local 7x24 DC Chapter and holds board and committee positions for the Data Center Coalition and the Nomad Futurist Foundation. She also supports local nonprofits that work to foster increased STEM participation in local youth. “I think it’s important, as a leader, to focus on education and workforce development — building next-gen talent for the data center industry through community engagement, collaboration, and most importantly, relationships,” explains Petersburg.  

The announcement to add Petersburg comes shortly after some important construction milestones for PowerHouse, including the official handoff of their new ABX-1 facility to new tenant CyrusOne, as well as the beginning stages of site preparation for their new hyperscale project: PowerHouse Pacific. To learn more about PowerHouse and its next-generation build-to-suit, powered shell, and full turnkey data center projects, visit it online here.

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About PowerHouse Data Centers

PowerHouse Data Centers (PowerHouse), a division of American Real Estate Partners (AREP), offers technical real estate solutions and next-generation data center powered shells for the hyperscale market. Driven by the core philosophy that strong data center projects begin with a strong real estate partner, PowerHouse provides best-in-class investment knowledge, development and site selection expertise, and technical operations. Visit www.powerhousedata.com for more about how PowerHouse delivers best-in-class build-to-suit, powered shell, and full turnkey deployments at scale.

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