Register for Speed to Power: Delivering Data Centers in a High-Demand World – Sept 28, 2026 – Houston, TX

Monday, September 28, 2026 | 5:00–8:00 PM

Join the Rice Global Forum for a timely panel discussion on the challenges of delivering data centers as demand for hyperscale infrastructure and AI workloads continues to surge.

Event Details

Location: Rice University, James A. Baker III Hall

Schedule:

• 5:00–6:00 PM: Check-In and Welcome Reception
• 6:00–7:00 PM: Panel Discussion
• 7:00–8:00 PM: Networking Reception

Parking: Rice University’s Central Campus Parking Garage

About the Discussion

The rapid growth of hyperscale infrastructure and AI workloads is pushing engineering, power, and capital requirements to new levels. Data center projects are becoming megaprojects, with rising power densities reshaping cooling, construction, connectivity, and grid requirements.

The panel will examine how the industry can respond to the growing pressure to deliver projects faster, while managing the technical, financial, and operational challenges involved.

Industry leaders will discuss breakthrough cooling technologies, modular construction strategies, major capital investments, and execution risk. The conversation will also draw on lessons from large-scale industrial and oil & gas megaprojects to explore how teams can navigate complexity, manage risk, and deliver at scale.

Featured Speakers

• Steve Beatte – Chief Operating Officer, Burr Computer Environments, Inc.
• Jake Courville, PE, MBA – Vice President – Power Plant Operations, Entergy – Operations Services & Generation
• Juan Jurado – Vice President of Sales, CLAYCO
• Stephen Poppe – Director – Digital Construction Operations, VIATECHNIK

Why This Matters Now

• Engineering challenges created by hyperscale and AI workloads, including increased power needs and reliability requirements
• New cooling approaches, including liquid cooling and large-scale heat management
• Power supply and grid limitations affecting data center growth
• Pressure to accelerate construction through modular methods
• Managing major investments and project risks as spending increases
• Lessons from industrial and oil & gas megaprojects that can help scale data center development

Who Should Attend?

The event is designed for anyone involved in building, powering, or investing in data centers, including developers, engineers, construction teams, energy providers, and technology leaders.

The next generation of data centers is being built now, and the pressure to deliver has never been greater. Join the conversation shaping what comes next.

Sponsored by Vantage Services