Start Campus Uses Autodesk Forma to Build Europe’s Largest AI Data Centre in Portugal
May 13, 2026
Start Campus Uses Autodesk Forma to Build Europe’s Largest AI Data Centre in Portugal
Portugal-headquartered data centre developer and operator Start Campus is advancing what is set to become Europe’s largest and most sustainable artificial intelligence data centre campus, leveraging Autodesk Forma tools to overcome complex design and construction challenges. The Sines Data Campus (DC), located in Sines, Portugal, represents a €8.5 billion investment and is designed to deliver a 1.2 GW IT facility, entirely powered by renewable energy. The project aligns with key European sustainability initiatives and aims to achieve carbon net-zero buildings, while also using ocean water for cooling to reach a campus-wide water usage effectiveness (WUE) of zero.
From the outset, Start Campus employed Autodesk tools for 3D modelling, real-time design collaboration, clash detection, and centralised document management. “Autodesk Forma is the most complete tool,” said Juliana A. Mizumoto, PhD, Head of Bid Management at Start Campus. “It made sense to use Forma tools from the beginning. That was the first step on the first day.” Construction on site began in 2022, and the first phase became operational in 2024. Mizumoto described this as a huge achievement for a project of such complexity, which required fully integrated power, water, and infrastructure systems.
A critical turning point came in 2022 when Start Campus parted ways with its external contractor and decided to bring the digital construction process in-house using Autodesk Forma (formerly Autodesk Construction Cloud). “We found ourselves without a contractor,” Mizumoto explained. “I thought this was our chance to do what we want, the way we want and the way we think it needs to be.” The team invested heavily in training to onboard contractors, standardising workflows and establishing a single source of truth. This shift dramatically improved collaboration and reduced errors, with Mizumoto noting that Forma “transformed the way we collaborate across teams, disciplines and project phases.”
Standardised workflows built with Forma Build yielded significant efficiency gains. Since standardising templates from the first completed building, SIN01, the team reduced onboarding time for contractors on subsequent buildings by 75%. “The setup of SIN02 was significantly accelerated, as construction processes had already been structured and standardised,” Mizumoto said. SIN01, the project’s first operational building, was awarded European Data Center Project of the Year in 2025 at the DatacenterDynamics Awards for its innovative design and commitment to sustainability. To manage operations, the team turned to Autodesk’s Tandem to create digital twins, providing real-time visibility for both the team and clients.
Construction of SIN02 (200 MW) is commencing soon, with delivery expected in Q4 2027. Five more buildings are planned to complete the complex, which will become Europe’s largest and most sustainable data centre infrastructure. Mizumoto emphasised that the team will continue using Autodesk tools, stating, “Automation and data standardisation support faster delivery and scalability. As the project grows in complexity and scale, having a connected ecosystem becomes increasingly important.”
Source: autodesk
