Team Table 4 Net Zero, composed of Justin Shultz, Ronnie Haldar, Roya Cody, and Mack Jiang, delivered a winning proposal for a 75MW AI Data Center in downtown New Orleans. The team secured first place by audience vote.

They addressed challenges that included a 40 percent increase in energy demand, long lead times on chillers, and a 30 percent budget reduction. Initial analysis showed an annual energy use intensity of 2,520 kBtu/sf/yr, far from a net-zero target.

Flooding risk was ruled out at the site. Opportunities were identified, including heat rejection with the Mississippi River and access to an electrical substation located four blocks away.

The team reduced power usage effectiveness to 1.05 through targeted measures. These included liquid-cooled IT equipment, river-based heat exchangers, magnetic bearing chillers, reduced electrical conversion losses, AI-driven load management, energy recovery systems, economizers, and both thermal and battery storage.

Rooftop solar offset 10 percent of annual demand, lowering EUI to 1,043 kBtu/sf/yr. An additional 350,000 square feet of solar on adjacent warehouses and 1.25 million square feet of off-site PV were included to close the remaining gap to net zero.

The team’s rigorous evaluation of risks and opportunities outlined a practical and achievable path to a net-zero 75MW AI Data Center. The audience recognized this with the award for best proposal.

Team Cottonputer delivered a thoughtful proposal for a 75MW AI Data Center grounded in local history and community integration. The project, encompassing a 210,000 square foot data hall and a 70,000 square foot administrative hub, was designed within a $490 million budget.

The team addressed key challenges including a strict budget cap, noise concerns, a 40 percent increase in operational energy use, and the need for historically and socially responsible design. By reusing the existing facility and avoiding major envelope upgrades, the team reduced overall costs by $60 million compared to typical new construction. Financial resilience was further strengthened by selling recovered waste heat to the surrounding community, both generating revenue and directly meeting local energy needs by providing a sustainable heating source.

Noise mitigation was achieved through a closed-loop river-source liquid cooling system and cotton-based acoustic panels manufactured from 85 percent textile waste, supported by additional vegetation to improve both sound attenuation and air quality. Energy resilience was enhanced with 2.6 MW of photovoltaic panels, generating 2.5 million kWh annually—or roughly 15 percent of site demand—supported by state renewable energy incentives. The proposal also created value for the utility by offsetting grid stress, a growing concern with the rapid expansion of data centers.

Finally, the design tied the project to its regional roots. The use of cotton acoustic panels honored the area’s industrial history, while the placement of the administrative building adjacent to the community center emphasized a strong commitment to local engagement.