The adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) and the need for hybrid architectures are redefining the way companies design and prove their digital infrastructure. In this context, Digital Realty has announced the implementation of its Realty Innovation Lab (DRIL), an innovation laboratory conceived for companies and partners to validate AI and Cloud projects in a real environment before climbing production.
The laboratory is located on the Realty Campus in northern Virginia, one of the most relevant technological poles in the world. Unlike simulation environments, the drill is located within an active data center, allowing customers to work with real work loads and in authentic operational conditions. The objective is simple: reduce uncertainty and risks by implementing critical infrastructure for AI and high performance computing (HPC).
A paradigm shift in infrastructure validation
The drill is designed so that organizations can replicate representative architectures, check the performance of new applications and optimize configurations without putting productive systems at risk. In addition, it facilitates the direct connection with network suppliers and cloud services thanks to the ServiceFric® platform, which acts as a global interconnection layer.
An innovation laboratory conceived for companies and partners to validate AI and Cloud projects in a real environment before climbing to production
“Innovation is not optional, it is a competitive requirement in a world where data volumes and the adoption of AI are accelerating,” explains Chris Sharp, Chief Technology Officer of Digital Realty. “The Dril provides an active and high density environment where customers obtain real -time information to adjust their implementations before climbing. It is designed to help companies be agile, reduce risks and advance faster from the concept test to production.”
Infrastructure prepared for AI
The most prominent characteristics of the laboratory include high density racks capable of supporting up to 150kw, optimized connectivity for hybrid environments and specific orchestration tools for AI loads through Private Ai Exchange (Aipx). You can also perform latency tests between locations, a key functionality to validate the performance of distributed architectures.
The drill not only represents a technological validation space, but also a meeting point for an ecosystem of strategic partners. Companies such as AMD, Cisco, Lenovo, Commscope, Supermicro, Vcinity or Zenlayer actively participate, contributing their technologies to reinforce the proposal.
The vision of technological partners
From AMD highlight the role of infrastructure to accelerate the adoption of artificial intelligence. “The drill shows how AMD Epyc processors and AMD Instinct accelerators provide exceptional performance in IA and HPC in a high density production environment,” said Robert Hormuth, corporate vice president in AMD.
For its part, Cisco emphasizes the importance of generating confidence in investments in AI. “The infrastructure that supports these workloads is too critical to trust it without previous evidence,” said Kevin Wollenweber, Cisco’s senior vice president.
Other partners highlight the relevance of the laboratory as a technological showcase. “The drill exemplifies how innovation in physical infrastructure can accelerate the transformation of the hybrid cloud and the AI,” said Koen Ter Linde, of Commscope. While Lenovo emphasizes neptune liquid cooling as a key to climbing private efficiency loads.
From theory to practice: the definitive step
The initiative is based on the AI Experience Center inaugurated in 2024, which already allowed companies to explore power, cooling and GPU requirements in controlled environments. The new laboratory goes one step further by integrating directly into an active data center and offering global connectivity, which opens the door to more realistic and scalable validations.
“The drill provides a real testing field that combines Eplus’s strategy with the Global Realty Colocation Platform. We offer customers the orientation, scale and connectivity they need to transform ideas into tangible solutions,” said Ken Farber, president of Epl Software.
Looking forward
Currently, the Virginia Campus is the main headquarters of the Dril, but Digital Realty already works on its international expansion. London will be the next city to have an innovation laboratory of this type in early 2026. The company hopes to reinforce its role as a strategic partner for companies that seek to accelerate the adoption of artificial intelligence in sectors as diverse as finance, health, manufacturing industry or digital trade.
“As the adoption of AI grows, we maintain our commitment to provide the critical infrastructure necessary to support the latest generation workloads,” Sharp concluded.
With this initiative, Digital Realty not only offers an environment to test and validate technology, but also marks a precedent in how data centers evolve to become active platforms of innovation and digital growth.
