Karen
Petersburg
Vice President, Data Center Development & Construction
As Vice President of Data Center Development & Construction, Karen Petersburg brings multidisciplinary expertise to PowerHouse, having successfully managed complex sustainable data center design and engineering projects, including campus developments, hyperscale built-to-suits, and major infrastructure renovations. Most recently, Petersburg has served as director of design for Digital Realty Trust, where she was responsible for the quality of the organization’s designs and processes. Alongside Luke Kipfer, Petersburg oversees the planning and execution of all PowerHouse data center projects.
Karen Petersburg actively contributes to the data center industry as the president of the local 7x24 DC Chapter, with board and committee positions for the Data Center Coalition and the Nomad Futurist Foundation. She also supports local non-profits aiming to increase STEM participation among local youth. Beyond her professional life, Karen is dedicated to exploring the philosophical and socio-economic dimensions of data, contemplating how it impacts our daily lives and shapes our globalized society's future.
Karen holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Government as well as a Masters of Arts in Philosophy from Virginia Tech, along with several industry certifications from CNet Training/Uptime Institute and Data Center Dynamics.