INDUSTRY INTELLIGENCE acceptable in their respective boroughs , and these will generally be well-informed opinions that are difficult to change . But the positive news is that data centre operators are largely willing to take on the challenge of continual improvement . They want to be a socially responsible part of the communities in which they operate . These days data centre operators are generally willing to invest in carefully designed solutions that also deliver in terms of working harmoniously with their urban surroundings .
Incorporating elements of greening has become more prevalent as a planning requirement in urban settings too . This can be in the form of green roofs , green walls or planting in amenity areas . For our part , studioNWA engages with local planning authorities and other specialists to identify the best solution for a given project site to effects of heat , air pollution and rainwater management , which can all contribute to on-site carbon capture as well as meeting relevant policy targets .
In terms of scalability , the statistics speak for themselves . A decade ago , a substantial new build data centre brief would be for 15MW , a staggering 300 % more capability than a brief from 20 years ago . Fast forward to 2023 and 100 – 200MW is more of an everyday occurrence in one single data centre .
The landscape of data centres has changed too with the evolution of Edge , enterprise and cloud facilities . Sometimes data centre needs change within the process of design , construction and handover with design teams having to adapt quickly to add density to a data hall , which completed Stage 3 and now needs to pass Stage 4 design . This means that now more than ever , our designs need to be adaptable , scalable and flexible to allow for these near-overnight changes to the brief . Our work needs to be able to deliver in terms of reuse too because no one can truly anticipate what these buildings will be used for in 10 – 20 years when tenancy agreements might come to an end . These premises might be required to upgrade or perhaps move elsewhere : we need to build in an element of futureproofing to anticipate these possible scenarios . There is so much to factor in , from the changing demands of tenants to the evolution of hardware and software to advancements in AI .
The landscape of data centre design is ever-evolving , driven by the demands of a digital world that never sleeps . To stay ahead in this industry is to embrace innovation and adapt to change . Sustainability , life cycle and socially responsible practices are the pillars upon which modern data centres should continue to be built . � www . intelligentdatacentres . com
25