Media Mention
Trent Cotney Discusses Data Center Risks on If Walls Could Talk Podcast
Published: Jun 12, 2026
During the episode, Cotney highlights how petroleum-driven increases in material costs extend well beyond fuel prices, affecting insulation systems, coatings, adhesives, and other manufactured building products commonly used in the wall and ceiling industry. He advises contractors working on fixed-price contracts to ensure they have price-escalation provisions in place and to carefully review bids on long-duration projects where material pricing may shift significantly between award and installation.
Cotney also addresses the unique risks associated with hyperscale data center projects, which are often fast-tracked and span enormous footprints exceeding 200 acres. He cautions that compressed schedules can cause administrative protections to fall behind, and that disputes are already emerging around performance obligations, building envelope requirements, and thermal performance criteria. He emphasizes the importance of careful scope definition and thorough documentation, particularly when assemblies involve high-performance insulation systems, air barriers, or specialty envelope interfaces found in mission-critical facilities.
Additionally, Cotney warns that advances in computing technology, including quantum computing and more efficient server infrastructure, could reduce future demand for large-scale data center space, creating the possibility of projects being terminated midstream. He urges contractors to ensure termination provisions flow consistently through subcontract agreements and supplier contracts, and to clarify ownership and payment structures for stored materials before procurement begins.
Listen to the full episode here: Data Center Risks Amid Oil Price Volatility Issues | Walls & Ceilings
