Rise of the Sustainable Timber Data Centre: Introducing Theca Timber’s ThecaDC01 CLT floor system
The digital era is driving an unprecedented demand for computing power, but as hyperscale data centres expand to meet this need, their carbon emissions are rising sharply. While operating emissions can be offset with green power embodied carbon from concrete and steel consumption is a stubborn issue. Scaling computing capacity while keeping environmental impact in check has become a critical challenge for the world largest technology players. Theca Timber’s ThecaDC01 CLT floor system offers a new approach, combining traditional mass timber expertise with advanced data centre engineering. By integrating a Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) slab with a high-performance raised floor system, Theca Timber is delivering server environments that are not only operationally efficient but also actively sequester carbon, providing a sustainable foundation for the growing needs of our computing. The digital era is undergoing a physical transformation. As global data demands skyrocket, the infrastructure supporting our digital lives is facing a critical crossroads: how to scale capacity while drastically reducing carbon footprints. In this landscape, the ThecaDC01 Data Centre Solution emerges as a pioneering fusion of traditional mass timber excellence and cutting-edge data centre engineering.
The Carbon Revolution: Why CLT is the New Gold Standard
For decades, data centres have relied on post-tensioned (PT) concrete or steel. While durable, these materials carry a massive "carbon debt." ThecaDC01 disrupts this cycle by utilizing CLT as its structural backbone.
The primary advantage is carbon sequestration. While concrete production is a leading source of CO2 emissions, the timber in the ThecaDC01 system stores carbon absorbed during the tree's life. Furthermore, the system offers a 50-year design life expectancy, ensuring that the sustainability gains are realized over decades of operational service.
Timber That Handles Heavy Loads: Structural and MEP Flexibility
A common misconception in data centre design is that concrete is the only material that can support heavy industrial loads. Theca Timber’s ThecaDC01 CLT floor system proves that this is not the case. The standard raised-floor configuration is tested to safely support a distributed load of up to 30kN/m² or 30kPa. For areas with heavier Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing (MEP) equipment, the system can be easily adapted; load capacity can be increased by integrating slab-supporting beams or reinforced panels.
Flat, Fast, and Efficient: Timber Over Concrete
Precision is critical in data centre construction. Traditional concrete slabs often need a levelling screed to meet strict flatness tolerances, which adds weight, cost, and time.
ThecaDC01 eliminates the need for leveling entirely. ThecaDC01 is Engineered for controlled deflection, it maintains flatness within the Australian Standard of +/-6mm over 3 metres. By eliminating cement screeds or levelling resins, the system saves valuable vertical space and reduces the need for on-site ‘wet’ trades, streamlining construction without compromising performance.
Factory-Applied Protection: Long-term waterproof protection
Every ThecaDC01 floor panel comes with a factory-applied, self-adhesive waterproofing membrane to protect the timber throughout the building’s life. It serves two purposes:
- During Construction - it acts as a temporary weather shield while the floor panels are being installed.
- During Operation - provides a permanent waterproof layer. In the event of a leak the waterproof membrane directs liquids and protects the timber panel minimising service interruptions.
Raised Floors: Cleaner Ceilings and greater flexibility
ThecaDC01 CLT floor panels can be combined with a raised floor system. The "DC01" reflects a new approach to how services are routed. By moving services from the ceiling to under a load-bearing raised floor, ThecaDC01 offers unparalleled flexibility in data center design.
When coordinated within a 3D model, the ThecaDC01 with the raised floor option can eliminate the need for suspended ceiling racking entirely. This leaves the ceiling clear for only essential items like lighting and fire sprinklers, creating a cleaner, flexible and more maintainable environment.
High-Density Cooling Integration
Modern data centres are increasingly adopting liquid cooling to handle high-density AI workloads. ThecaDC01 is designed to support this shift:
- Leak Management: Liquid-cooled racks are paired with tundishes beneath the floor, providing a safe and practical way to manage condensate and accidental leaks.
- Airflow Efficiency: In air-cooled setups, the raised floor serves as an active part of the HVAC system. The plenum below the panels accommodates modular equipment to control air pressure, while the perforated grille panels allow free airflow.
- Aisle Containment: Fully compatible with Hot-Aisle Containment (HAC) configurations, the system allows flexible floor panel cutouts that match rack footprints and prevent air mixing and clean ceilings.
Scalable Timber Solution: Delivered on Schedule
A common concern with innovative materials like CLT is lead time and production volume. Theca Timber addresses this through a strong partner network capable of delivering 20,000–25,000 m² GFA at any time. Once a project’s 3D model is finalised, typical production and shipment to site takes just 16 weeks, enabling consistent deliver, predictable timelines and fast-track construction.
Rapid Deployment: Factory-Prepared Panels That Save Time On Site
Delivered ready to install, hundreds of square metres of ThecaDC01 can be installed per day. With no curing time required, the floor is immediately walkable, allowing services and equipment to be installed straight away, accelerating construction. The CLT panels and the raised panels come with factory-made, machine-cut penetrations, significantly reducing on-site work. Each penetration is carefully planned to maintain structural integrity and can be fire-proofed with certified fire collars where needed. The timber soffit also allows for future attachments or modifications, and new penetrations can be cut on site without needing to scan for reinforcement, providing added flexibility for evolving operational needs.
ThecaDC01: Efficiency Meets Sustainability
Theca Timbers’ ThecaDC01 CLT Floor system represents a shift in how data centres can be designed and built using timber. Proving that sustainability, performance, and efficiency can coexist ThecaDC01 combines the structural strength and precision of Cross-Laminated Timber with a purpose-built raised floor system. ThecaDC01 delivers a substantial embodied carbon reductions, simplifies construction, and future-proofs data centres for evolving technologies. As the demand for high-performance computing grows, ThecaDC01 provides a scalable, low-carbon foundation that meets operational needs today while contributing to a more sustainable digital future.