Digital Realty's existing data center at 6 Braham St. in London provides 63,000 square feet of space, all of which is leased out, according to the company

Wholesale colocation provider Digital Realty Trust said Thursday it will expand its presence in five markets in US and Europe.

The company plans to build out more than 170,000 square feet of new data center space on the west and east coasts of the US and in the London metropolitan area.

"In response to the increased demand for our Turn-Key product, we are accelerating our development plans in these key markets and expect construction to be completed by mid-year,"CEO Michael Foust said in a statement.

"Our redevelopment program is an essential component of our growth strategy.

We are also focused on optimizing space in existing operating facilities."

The aforementioned 170,000 square feet will be in new data centers.

The company also announced plans to add computer-floor space in five existing facilities in the US.

DRT's new data center builds announced Thursday (square footage figures are approximate):
- 53,000 square feet in northern New Jersey
- 34,000 square feet in London
- 29,600 square feet in northern Virginia
- 22,000 square feet in San Francisco, Calif.
- 33,000 square feet in Dallas, Texas
Existing facilities to be expanded:
- 600 Federal St. in downtown Chicago
- 210 North Tucker Blvd. in St. Louis, Mo.
- 113 North Meyers St. in Charlotte, N.C.
- 2323 Bryan St. in downtown Dallas
- Quannapowitt Parkway property in the Boston metro area

The announcement is the most recent step in an aggressive expansion strategy DRT has been following since fall of 2009 by both acquisition and build-out.

In October, the provider bought two facilities in Santa Clara, Calif., for about $90.5 million and, less than two months later, it purchased four buildings in Sterling and Ashburn, Va., for about $63.3 million.

In January, DRT bought another three properties in Massachusetts and Connecticut for a total purchase price of about $375 million.

In March, it began power and space capacity expansion at a St. Louis facility.