INDUSTRY INTELLIGENCE
Data centre design is reshaping with a large focus currently on sustainability , life cycle and social responsibility . their operations . These data centres consider their impact on the local and global community . One such impact is the way the data centre building itself integrates into the urban fabric .
As far as data centre cooling systems go , several methods can be employed to ensure the efficient and reliable management of temperature within these facilities . Calibrated Vectored Cooling ( CVC ) is an innovation tailored for highdensity servers , optimising airflow to enhance heat management and energy efficiency . Meanwhile , the chilled water system is widely used in mid-to-large data centres , efficiently cooling air with heated water from a chiller plant , as well as cold aisle / hot aisle containment . Other systems such as direct air cooling , however , although currently limited due to their large space requirements , propose a promising future – they operate by recirculating particularly effective for the design of administration blocks , as access to daylight and views are an inherent requirement for office areas with permanent workstations , meeting rooms and amenity spaces . Glazed areas to office areas are sized according to solar orientation and shading devices are introduced to prevent overheating in summer .
While there is a heavy focus on sustainability , it is crucial and important not to forget that data centres built today must ensure they are socially responsible too . This refers to facilities that not only prioritise efficient data management and storage but also actively integrate ethical and socially responsible practices into
Location is an interesting factor to consider , especially as we will increasingly see vast facilities nestled within the most granular parts of our cities . Long gone are the days when data centre operators could locate the dullestlooking shed where it best suits them and use the need for critical infrastructure to justify the lack of attention to aesthetics and appropriateness to its surroundings . Nowadays , planners have learned a fair amount and the general public has also taken an interest in what they want ( or don ’ t ) in terms of the look and feel of a data centre .
Both local authorities and local populations have firm ideas about what they would find
Angela Vico Correas , Director , studioNWA
external air at very high velocities to cool down equipment . They use very limited water and this does not need to be potable water but can be harvested rainwater . These methods represent the cutting edge of data centre cooling technology , addressing heat management and energy efficiency challenges in highperformance data centres .
At studioNWA , we use a ‘ fabric first ’ approach to optimise the thermal performance of the building envelope to reduce energy use demands from the outset of the design process . In data centre typologies , this methodology is
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