Element Critical Taps Veteran Investor to Drive AI Data Center Expansion

VIENNA, VA – January 20, 2026 – In a decisive move signaling its aggressive growth ambitions, data center provider Element Critical has appointed Andrew Lake as its new Senior Vice President, Head of Strategy and Acquisitions. The appointment comes as the company prepares to leverage a new billion-dollar investment platform to capture a larger share of the burgeoning market for AI-ready digital infrastructure.

Lake, an industry veteran with deep experience in infrastructure investing, is tasked with steering the company through a period of accelerated expansion. This strategic hire underscores a broader trend in the digital infrastructure sector, where securing top executive talent is becoming as critical as securing land and power for navigating the complex, high-stakes world of data center development.

A Strategic Hire for an Ambitious Future

Andrew Lake joins Element Critical from a background steeped in high-level infrastructure investment. His previous tenures include leadership roles at DigitalBridge, a premier global digital infrastructure investment firm, and Ares Management, where he focused on private equity investments within the infrastructure sector. This experience is precisely what Element Critical needs as it executes a large-scale acquisition and development pipeline.

In his new role, Lake will spearhead the company's M&A activities, identify and evaluate new market opportunities, and collaborate with capital partners to ensure disciplined portfolio growth. His appointment is timed to coincide with a surge in demand for the very services Element Critical is built to provide: high-density colocation and connectivity for both traditional enterprise workloads and the power-hungry, GPU-intensive environments required for artificial intelligence.

"Andrew brings deep experience in infrastructure investing and strategy at a time when demand for enterprise, AI and high-density capacity is accelerating," said Ken Parent, Chief Executive Officer of Element Critical. "As we immediately begin to expand our product offerings and execute on a growing acquisitions and development pipeline across key U.S. markets, his leadership will help ensure we are building the right platforms for where customers need capacity next."

The Billion-Dollar Platform Fueling Growth

Lake's arrival is not happening in a vacuum. It follows the company's recent launch of a new U.S. data center platform, announced in late 2025 and backed by a formidable $1 billion from a consortium of institutional investors including 26North Partners, Arctos, Mercuria, and long-term partner Safanad. This war chest is explicitly designed to fund the acquisition and development of data centers capable of meeting next-generation infrastructure needs.

The platform's strategy is already in motion. Its foundation is anchored by the acquisition of two enterprise data centers in Houston and Austin, Texas—two of the nation's most dynamic and power-constrained tech hubs. As a tangible example of its commitment, Element Critical is already adding 10MW of AI-ready capacity at its Houston One campus. This project includes a new 20,000-square-foot data hall engineered specifically for high-density workloads, with the first phase of power expected to come online by the end of 2026.

This expansion directly addresses the capacity crunch in key markets and positions the company as a go-to provider for organizations deploying AI at scale. The involvement of an energy and commodity giant like Mercuria also suggests a strategic focus on navigating complex power requirements and potentially incorporating innovative energy solutions to support these demanding facilities.

Riding the AI Infrastructure Tsunami

The strategic maneuvers by Element Critical are a direct response to an unprecedented surge in demand for AI infrastructure. Industry forecasts paint a dramatic picture: the global AI infrastructure market is projected to skyrocket past $100 billion by 2028, with some estimates putting it as high as $758 billion by 2029. This growth is driven by the increasing complexity of AI models and the immense computational power they require.

This demand is fundamentally reshaping the data center itself. While traditional facilities were designed for rack power densities of 8-10kW, AI workloads often demand 35-45kW per rack, with future systems expected to exceed 70kW. According to Goldman Sachs Research, global power demand from data centers could increase by 165% by the end of the decade compared to 2023 levels. This has made advanced liquid cooling solutions and access to massive amounts of power key differentiators for operators.

Element Critical’s focus on building and acquiring facilities capable of supporting these high-density environments places it at the forefront of this technological shift. By anticipating the infrastructure needs of next-generation technologies, the company is positioning itself not just as a landlord, but as a critical enabler of the AI revolution.

Navigating a High-Stakes Competitive Arena

Element Critical is making its push in a fiercely competitive market. The U.S. data center landscape is dominated by global giants like Equinix and Digital Realty, who together command a significant portion of the colocation market. The sector is also seeing massive investment from private equity, as evidenced by Blackstone's $10 billion acquisition of QTS in 2021.

Competitors are not standing still. Vantage Data Centers, for example, recently announced a staggering $25 billion investment to develop a 1.4-gigawatt campus in Texas specifically for AI demand, capable of supporting racks up to 250kW. In this environment, having a seasoned strategist like Andrew Lake, with a background in navigating large-scale deals at firms like DigitalBridge and Ares, becomes a crucial competitive advantage. His expertise will be vital in identifying undervalued assets and executing acquisitions that provide a strategic edge rather than simply adding to the noise.

The so-called "talent wars" in digital infrastructure are intense, as companies recognize that human capital is essential for executing ambitious growth plans. Securing leaders with a proven track record in investment and M&A is a clear signal of a company's intent to compete at the highest level.

A Disciplined Blueprint for National Expansion

While the company's ambitions are vast, its strategy appears targeted and disciplined. Element Critical is pursuing a "buy-and-build" approach focused on both Tier 1 and Tier 2 North American markets where demand is strong and supply is constrained. The initial focus on Texas is strategic, with Austin projected to have one of the highest growth rates in the U.S. data center market through 2030.

By establishing a strong foothold in Texas, the company plans to create an anchor for further expansion into other key U.S. markets, echoing a strategy it has used in the past with acquisitions in Chicago, Silicon Valley, and Northern Virginia. The provider is specifically targeting enterprise and wholesale colocation customers with power requirements ranging from 1MW to 50MW, a sweet spot that serves both large enterprises and emerging AI firms.

As Element Critical moves into its next phase of growth, its success will depend on the swift and effective execution of this blueprint. With new leadership, substantial financial backing, and a clear focus on the most demanding segment of the market, the company has assembled the key components needed to build a formidable national platform.