May 25
Although Seattle has long been seen as a key hub of the technology industry, the combination of the city’s high cost of living and pandemic pressures had some observers predicting that workers would soon flee the area for smaller cities in other parts of the country. Those fears have not been borne out by reality, however. A 2023 US Census Bureau report showed that Seattle reclaimed its title as the country’s fastest-growing large city in 2022 with a growth rate of 2.4%, a figure comparable to its heyday of rapid growth in the 2010s. For organizations operating in the Pacific Northwest, Seattle’s enduring strength makes it an ideal site for data center colocation.
Seattle Remains a Top Destination for Business Operations
Seattle’s powerful blend of economic strength and population growth makes it a lucrative location for businesses. The city’s unemployment rate remains below the national average even in the wake of high profile tech industry layoffs in 2022 and 2023, which is a testament to the booming job market. Between the low unemployment rate and its rapidly expanding population, Seattle provides a vast pool of potential customers and employees. The city's job opportunities, appealing climate, and superior quality of life attract a diverse demographic, making it an attractive destination for organizations looking to grow their operations.
As an established tech hub, Seattle has long attracted top talents in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. The area also augments that talent pipeline with a steady stream of qualified graduates from leading educational institutions like the University of Washington and Seattle University. Seattle's favorable business environment is another key benefit, marked by a competitive corporate tax rate, attractive tax incentives, and a supportive local government committed to business success. Given these features, it’s hardly a surprise that Forbes ranked Seattle as the top city for business in America as recently as 2019.
5 Benefits of Data Center Colocation in Seattle
1. Proximity to Tech Companies
Seattle is a thriving technological center, which makes it an optimal location for data center operations. The region is home to major tech giants such as Microsoft and Amazon, which translates into a bustling digital ecosystem filled with immense networking opportunities and access to cutting-edge technology. Not only does this proximity to tech innovators foster collaborative potential and technological synergies, but it also attracts a highly skilled talent pool, essential for the efficient management of sophisticated data center operations. Moreover, with these industry leaders pushing the boundaries of cloud services, AI, and other digital advancements, a data center in Seattle can seamlessly integrate these evolving technologies, empowering digital transformation and creating robust, responsive solutions. Migrating assets into a Seattle data center situates companies at the heart of innovation and provides unparalleled opportunities to stay ahead in the dynamic landscape of digital infrastructure.
2. Reliable, Affordable Power Access
Power reliability and affordability are pivotal for data center operations, and Seattle shines in both areas, further cementing its status as an ideal site for colocation. The city is powered by an exceptionally reliable grid, largely maintained by Seattle City Light, a publicly owned utility known for its commitment to green energy and sustainable practices. This utility provides cost-effective, renewable energy, much of it sourced from hydroelectric dams. As data centers consume significant power, having access to an affordable and environmentally friendly energy source substantially reduces operational expenses and supports sustainability goals. Seattle’s robust power infrastructure also minimizes downtime risks, ensuring consistent power supply, which is a crucial requirement for data center uptime and operational continuity. The reliable and affordable power infrastructure of Seattle plays a vital role in promoting the city as an optimal site for data center services.
3. Cool Climate
Seattle's naturally cool and temperate climate makes it an attractive location for data centers. Data centers, being high consumers of electricity, generate a significant amount of heat during operations. Keeping the equipment cool to prevent overheating and ensure optimal performance is a major concern for any facility. Seattle enjoys relatively low year-round temperatures, which can substantially reduce the costs and energy consumption associated with cooling. Utilizing the outside air for natural cooling, also known as "free cooling," is also a highly efficient and eco-friendly strategy for maintaining appropriate operating temperatures. This can support organizational commitments to sustainability, reducing a company’s carbon footprint by minimizing reliance on data center cooling systems. Seattle's climate offers a strategic advantage in balancing the thermal dynamics of data centers, leading to cost savings, energy efficiency, and enhanced equipment longevity.
4. Favorable Tax Environment
Seattle is an ideal location for data center services due to the favorable tax benefits available to business. Washington State offers a variety of tax incentives tailored specifically to entice and support data centers and their customers. For instance, data centers may benefit from the sales and use tax exemption for server equipment and power infrastructure, a considerable saving given the significant capital outlay these items typically represent. These savings can then be passed along to colocation customers. Additionally, Washington state does not levy a personal or corporate income tax, further enhancing the financial advantages for businesses. The state also recently extended tax provisions originally intended for rural data centers to urban facilities as well. These financial incentives, paired with the progressive technological landscape of Seattle, create a robust and enticing environment for data center operations that encourages growth and innovation within the sector.
5. Robust Network Infrastructure
Seattle's advanced networking infrastructure is ideal for data center operations and colocation customers. Known as a major international gateway for trans-Pacific and intra-Asian cables, Seattle boasts extensive fiber-optic connectivity and robust broadband infrastructure. This facilitates high-speed data transmission and low-latency connections that are crucial for data center efficiency and the delivery of quality digital services. Additionally, with direct connectivity to tech behemoths such as Microsoft and Amazon, as well as numerous internet service providers and cloud platforms, colocation data centers in Seattle can leverage exceptional interconnection opportunities and digital ecosystem advantages. Furthermore, the presence of the Seattle Internet Exchange (SIX), one of the world's largest internet exchanges, allows for cost-effective and direct data exchange between networks, enhancing network resilience and speed. This sophisticated networking infrastructure provides Seattle data centers with the connectivity prowess and network flexibility businesses require to thrive in today's digital age.
Meet Evoque Seattle
Located in Lynnwood, WA, just 15 miles north of Seattle and 30 miles from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Evoque’s SEA1 colocation data center is ideally positioned to service the processing needs of colocation customers in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Fully cloud-enabled with multi-cloud access and high-speed connectivity to Evoque’s other data center locations, SEA1 offers 103,920 square feet of floor space and features a variety of N+1 and 2N redundancies to reliably deliver 99.9999% system uptime. The carrier-neutral facility provides ready access to a variety of ISPs and cloud providers to support dynamic hybrid IT environments capable of meeting the demands of today’s digital-first organizations.
Seattle Data Center Features
- 103,920 sq. ft. data center
- Standard cabinet: 45U, 24” wide x 42" deep, 4, 5, & 6 kW
- Standard cage capacity: Up to 300 W/sq. ft.
- Higher densities available
- Cloud-enabled with Megaport
- 100% SLA on power, network and bandwidth
- N+1 & 2N UPS redundancy
- N+1 standby power, HVAC distribution, & chiller redundancies
- 24x7 onsite staffing and closed circuit monitoring
- 6 layers of physical security, including mantrap
- Access control with card, bio-scanner, or mobile device NFC authentication
- PCI-DSS, SOC 1 Type II, SOC 2 Type II, SOC 3, and ISAE 3402
- Carrier Partners: Astound, AT&T, Cloudflare, Comcast, ExteNet Systems, Lumen, Megaport, Zayo
Learn More About Evoque Seattle
How Evoque’s Seattle Data Center Can Benefit Your Business
Evoque Seattle was designed to support the demands of modern hybrid cloud networks, making it the perfect colocation solution for businesses operating applications in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. Like all of our data center locations, SEA1 offers our revolutionary SpendAgility service, which gives you the leeway to shift workloads smoothly between the cloud and colocated resources. This adaptable strategy ensures your application placement will remain flexible as your deployment requirements change over time.
At Evoque, we're dedicated to making your data center deployment as simple as possible, no matter how complex your technology needs might be. We provide extensive migration assistance to help you refine data floor layouts, cabinet arrangements, power distribution, and network infrastructure to match your distinct business needs.
To learn more about how our Seattle data center can help you achieve your digital transformation goals, talk to one of our colocation experts today.
