Office towers v Bunnings sheds: Alternate routes in AI race

Demand for data centres to power the artificial intelligence boom is surging, but there is debate over the best way to deliver.

A liquid immersion cooling tank inside ResetData’s facility in Melbourne’s CBD.

Tess BennettTechnology reporter

Dec 10, 2025 – 5.00am

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In an era when US tech giants are measuring their data centre investments in gigawatts, one Australian company is betting that refurbished office space is a better home for the chips that power artificial intelligence than purpose-built, warehouse-sized data centres.

ResetData, which is half owned by ASX-listed property fund manager Centuria Capital, opened its flagship location, AI-F1, in Melbourne’s CBD in August. The AI factory houses just 1.5 megawatts of computing power across 650 square metres of once unused office space.

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Tess BennettTechnology reporterTess Bennett is a technology reporter with The Australian Financial Review, based in the Brisbane newsroom. She was previously the work & careers reporter.