Boštjan Lavuger is one of the leading experts in the design and construction of data centers in Slovenia. Over two decades of work in this field, he has participated as a consultant, designer, or project manager in the planning and implementation of more than thirty data centers at home and abroad. Among other projects, he was responsible for the design and management of the construction of new data centers for the supercomputers Meister and Vega. He is a partner at the Maribor-based NTR Engineering, where he has been the Technical Director since 2009. He is also active internationally, collaborating with top experts and leading companies in the industry, and lecturing at conferences. In recent years, he has been focusing intensively on the challenges posed to data centers by AI and high-performance computing. Together with his colleagues, he develops optimal solutions to efficiently adapt and upgrade existing infrastructure. He also plans, develops, and tests advanced systems and technologies for sixth-generation data centers.
Key challenges in implementing AI systems include managing high energy density, ensuring data center scalability, and maintaining the concurrent operations of traditional and AI systems. Modern data centers, which are not purpose-built exclusively for HPC or AI systems, face significant challenges in the coexistence of traditional IT systems and high-energy-density IT systems. These challenges are further intensified by the anticipated transformation of traditional systems into high-density systems, creating new dynamics in the lifecycle of data centers. This presentation will explore strategies for planning and implementing data centers to ensure scalability and adaptability for potential high-density systems.