Sidewalk Infrastructure Partners (SIP), an Alphabet spin-out known for its innovative infrastructure solutions, has officially unveiled its latest venture: Verrus. This newly launched platform company is set to revolutionize the data center landscape by constructing next-generation facilities meticulously designed for both conventional and AI-driven workloads. After years of dedicated research and development conducted in stealth mode, SIP is now publicly introducing Verrus as a leader in private sector solutions for evolving data infrastructure needs.
Verrus logo, representing Sidewalk Infrastructure Partners' innovative approach to next-generation data centers.
Verrus is pioneering a transformative approach to data centers, aligning infrastructure design with the specific demands of diverse workloads. Recognizing that not all computing tasks require the same level of uptime or resources, Verrus is engineering flexible and efficient data centers tailored to these nuanced requirements. For instance, the company detailed how separate server halls within a Verrus facility can accommodate varying needs – one section for latency-sensitive operations like web searches, and another for batch processing tasks such as AI training. This workload-aware strategy maximizes efficiency by precisely matching infrastructure to actual demand, a core principle for Sidewalk Infrastructure Partners’ new data center platform.
The innovative design extends beyond workload allocation. Verrus’s modular architecture allows for the dynamic sharing of power resources across different server halls. This intelligent power management improves overall utilization and avoids stranded capacity, a common inefficiency in traditional data centers. Furthermore, Verrus is committed to sustainable practices, opting for grid-scale battery storage instead of relying on diesel generators for backup power. This not only enhances environmental responsibility but also provides potential grid support capabilities, aligning with broader sustainability goals championed by Sidewalk Infrastructure Partners.
At the heart of Verrus’s operations is an orchestrated software system designed to optimize performance while balancing cost, emissions, and grid interaction. This sophisticated software dynamically manages uptime preservation and resource allocation, ensuring efficient and sustainable data center operation. To address the increasing heat density from power-intensive processors like GPUs, especially crucial for AI workloads, Verrus is implementing “innovative cooling techniques.” While specific details remain undisclosed, this likely points towards advanced liquid-cooling solutions, essential for supporting the high-performance computing demands of next-generation applications that Sidewalk Infrastructure Partners is targeting.
The leadership team at Verrus boasts a wealth of experience, particularly with alumni from Google. CEO Nelson Abramson brings extensive expertise, having served as global head of Infrastructure for X (formerly Twitter) and spending two decades at Google, including within its data center division. CTO Anand Ramesh is another Google veteran, with prior experience as SVP of advanced technology at EdgeConneX. The team also includes Jeff Monroe, former CEO of Verne Global, and Jimmy Clidaras, previously a distinguished engineer at Google and founder of Google’s data center R&D division. This experienced leadership reinforces the strong foundation and expertise behind Verrus and Sidewalk Infrastructure Partners’ strategic move into the data center sector.
Sidewalk Infrastructure Partners, the parent company of Verrus, was established in 2019 as an independent entity spun out from Alphabet. It receives funding from prominent investors including the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan (OTPP) and StepStone Group, a private infrastructure fund. SIP has been actively expanding its infrastructure portfolio, as demonstrated by its 2021 acquisition of Dense Air Networks, a wireless infrastructure business. The launch of Verrus signifies a significant step for Sidewalk Infrastructure Partners as it diversifies into the critical data center market, leveraging its expertise and innovative approach to address the evolving needs of digital infrastructure.
