This interview is part of our Women in Data Centres series for International Women's Day 2026.
Lead Architect Concha Bibian on learning from the construction site, leading across borders, and why data centres are more than "big grey boxes"
Concha Bibian Díaz , Architecture Lead for Data Centres at AECOM brings a unique perspective to her work: she learned the sector from the construction phase first, working on site before moving into design leadership.
In this conversation, she shares insights on collaborative leadership, the evolution of modularisation, and why the industry's biggest misconception needs challenging.
Learning to Build the House from the Roof
Concha's entry into data centres was unconventional—and that's exactly what shaped her approach.
Assigned as Site Architect for a data centre construction project in Madrid, she arrived with solid experience managing complex international projects, but data centres themselves were entirely new territory.
"In many ways, I learned the sector from the construction phase first—almost like starting to build the house from the roof," she recalls.
Rather than beginning with theory and design principles, Concha was immersed in the practical realities: the precision required, the technical complexity, and the intense collaboration needed across multiple engineering disciplines. It was transformative.
"Data centres are highly technical, precision-driven environments, and I was immediately drawn to the complexity," she says.
That hands-on experience gave her something invaluable when she later joined the design team as Lead Architect: a deep understanding of how design decisions translate into real construction challenges.
"Having started on site has given me invaluable perspective at the design table—I understand how decisions translate into real construction challenges, and that practical insight continues to shape how I lead projects today."
The Turning Point: Taking the Leap Abroad
If learning data centres on site was formative, Concha's biggest career turning point came when she accepted a Site Architect role in the Netherlands—a move that required weekly travel, working abroad, and stepping far outside her comfort zone.
"It was a demanding period professionally and personally—but it accelerated my growth more than anything else," she reflects.
The skills that mattered most during that time weren't purely technical. Composure, respect, and relationship-building became critical.
"On complex, high-pressure projects, staying calm and treating every stakeholder with professionalism creates trust," Concha explains.
"Of course, hard work and technical competence are essential—but having the right team around you, and recognising that success is collective, makes all the difference."
It's a philosophy that continues to define her leadership today.
Designing for Constant Evolution
Ask Concha how technical complexity in data centres has changed, and her answer is immediate:
"Data centres are in constant evolution."
Requirements shift during design. They shift again during construction. Clients are adapting to new technologies, energy strategies, and operational models at breakneck speed. As designers, the challenge is staying agile—pivoting quickly and reworking solutions without compromising quality.
But rather than finding this exhausting, Concha finds it energising.
"That dynamic environment is what excites me most. Every change represents a new technical challenge—whether it's resilience strategies, cooling innovation, or integrating sustainability targets. The pace keeps us sharp and pushes us to think more creatively and strategically."
Looking ahead, she believes adaptability will be the most valuable skill over the next five years—not just reacting to change, but anticipating it and helping clients make informed decisions that remain robust as technologies evolve.
Busting the "Big Grey Box" Myth
One of Concha's frustrations is a persistent misconception: that data centres are simply "big grey boxes" with little regard for environment or community.
"In reality, the industry is increasingly focused on sustainability, energy efficiency, water usage, and local integration," she says firmly.
"As architects and designers, we play a crucial role in improving how these buildings relate to their surroundings—both environmentally and socially."
It's not just about compliance or optics. For Concha, this is fundamental to responsible design—ensuring that the infrastructure powering our digital lives also contributes positively to the places where it's built.
Collaborative Leadership in Complex Environments
When asked to describe her leadership style, Concha is clear: collaborative leadership is the only approach that makes sense for data centre projects.
"Data centre projects are too complex for any one person to control completely," she explains. "Success depends on trust, transparency, and collective expertise. I have enormous consideration for the engineers, consultants and contractors I work with—everyone brings knowledge that strengthens the final outcome."
As she's grown into more senior roles, she's had to unlearn a common assumption: that leadership means having all the answers. "It doesn't," she says.
"Leadership often means facilitating the right conversations, creating alignment, and empowering others to perform at their best."
Balancing speed, resilience, and sustainability in high-pressure environments comes down to teamwork and clarity of priorities. Deadlines can feel impossible. Requirements can conflict. Concha's role is often to align the team around what truly matters: operational resilience, long-term performance, and responsible design.
Crucially, she sees people as more than resources.
"When teams feel supported and aligned, even the most demanding schedules become achievable."
Spain's Data Centre Boom and the Rise of Modularisation
Looking to the future, Concha is excited about what's happening in Spain. The country is entering a period of significant growth, with major hyperscale developments moving into construction alongside smaller, innovative facilities where cutting-edge technologies will be tested.
From a design perspective, one trend stands out: the evolution of modularisation.
"The industrialisation of components—from plant systems to structural solutions—is transforming how we design and deliver data centres," she says. "It offers opportunities for efficiency, scalability, and improved sustainability. Being part of that transformation is incredibly motivating."
It's a shift that plays to her strengths: combining technical precision with practical, construction-informed thinking to deliver smarter, faster, more sustainable infrastructure.
Her Advice: Why Not?
For women considering a career in data centres, Concha's message is both straightforward and powerful.
"Many of the women I meet in the data centre industry come from construction and engineering backgrounds—sectors where women have historically been underrepresented. At some point, we each decided to challenge that norm and step forward."
"My advice is simple: if you are curious and motivated, why not? Data centres are collaborative, technical, and fast-evolving environments where diverse perspectives genuinely add value. There is space for leadership, innovation and impact—and we need more women shaping the future of this industry."
It's advice rooted in her own journey: from learning on construction sites to leading design teams across borders, proving that curiosity, resilience, and collaboration can take you further than a predetermined path ever could.
A Future Built on Innovation and Inclusion
As data centres continue to evolve—faster, more complex, more critical to global infrastructure—leaders like Concha are proving that the best outcomes come from diverse perspectives, collaborative teams, and a refusal to accept the status quo.
Her career is a reminder that some of the most valuable expertise comes from unconventional routes—and that leadership isn't about having all the answers, but about creating the conditions for the right solutions to emerge.
Read more from our Women in Data Centres series:
✨Irene Alonso: Spotlight on Career Transition and Leadership
✨Coming soon: Technical Operations and the Next Generation
✨Coming soon: Spotlight on Strategic Leadership and Systems Thinking
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This interview was brought together for our Women in Data Centres spotlight series for International Women’s Day 2026.
At Eligo, we work closely with data centre developers, operators, consultancies and contractors across the UK and Europe, supporting the growth of technical, design and delivery teams in one of the world’s fastest-moving sectors.
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