Over several years of completing data center retro-commissioning, airflow, and heat load analysis projects a variety of common issues have been identified. The root cause of many operational concerns found in data centers could have been avoided during the design process and initial handover to the operations staff through more clear and concise communication. The lessons learned during several retro-commissioning (RCx) projects can be utilized in the design process as checklist to deliver an effective product and system to the end user, reducing the opportunities for adverse energy use, maintenance, and creating an agile data center environment. The enhanced design process and documentation shall; communicate of the design intent of the data center systems through the use of a design narrative identifying current and future space uses; provide several locations of the design intent and sequence of operations in the final operations and maintenance (O&M) manuals, drawings, and building automation system (BAS) user interfaces; and clearly demonstrate limitations in the system design for future adaptations within the facilities life cycle. Through the use of a procedural communication plan, effectively built into the design process, gaps in information between the design engineer, facilities mangers, and operational staff can be filled.