How a collaborative team approach helped DPR Construction deliver Yandex ’ s first data center build outside of Russia

Complex mission critical design and construction projects require cross-team collaboration . While there are performance metrics and benchmarks to help guide success , team dynamics can make or break a project .

With a short timeframe for design , procurement and execution of its first data center outside of Russia , Yandex quickly realized traditional design and construction processes were not going to meet their needs . They also realized a traditional contractor would not fit the bill .

Yandex enlisted DPR Construction , one of the top data center contractors in the U . S . over the past decade . DPR proposed an alternative plan that allowed for the design to be finalized during the preconstruction phase of work . The preconstruction effort took an innovative approach allowing the design to be completed without delaying the construction start . Preconstruction also fostered a collaborative effort between designers , Yandex and DPR , which maximized the design development .

DPR implemented a 360 ° team approach , tying together the entire project team and eliminating silos . The collaborative team approach empowered and improved the speed of decision making by individuals and avoided the old “ decision-by-committee ” approach .

When asked how to best manage and strengthen teams to ensure projects are set up for success , DPR ’ s Damian Farr outlined six crucial responsibilities for managing a project :

1 . Develop a clear and common understanding of project values and goals . This is the foundation of a truly collaborative project — clearly defined project values and goals that are determined by all key stakeholders .

2 . Clearly communicate these values and goals to ALL participants . In addition to clearly communicating values with all participants , leaders must appropriately onboard any subcontractors or consultants , as well as continually reinforce the goals and values to the whole team through repetition and recognition .

3 . Create a functional physical and virtual space for co-location . To enhance performance , digital networks , collaboration systems and other elements must be established up front .

4 . Define the necessary project teams / select team members . Teams should be diverse , crossfunctional and have different viewpoints and perspectives . Not only does this diversity provide more information to inform the design , the tension between perspectives stimulates greater creativity .

5 . Provide training and mentoring for project teams . Training and mentoring should address three task performance issues : level and coordination of member effort ; appropriateness of the task and performance strategies the team is using ; and degree to which the team leverages all of its members ’ knowledge and skills .

6 . Monitor and adjust team dynamics as needed . The team ’ s strengths and weaknesses should be reviewed and addressed to minimize negative impacts .

Total data center power capacity put-in-place by DPR Construction around the globe to date .

ABOUT DPR CONSTRUCTION DPR Construction is a forward-thinking international general contractor specializing in technically complex and sustainable projects . Since 1990 , DPR has grown with its customers supporting them internationally through offices in the U . S ., Asia and the Netherlands .

Learn more about DPR ’ s experience and expertise at

www . DPR . com

DAMIAN FARR Europe Managing Director DPR Construction DamianF @ europe . dpr . com + 31 618 585 380 ( NL ) + 44 7984 005 725 ( UK )