Data Centres 'Should be Part of Residential Developments'

The demand for physical infrastructure to house data processing equipment is now such that the construction industry must begin thinking outside the box to keep pace, a leading architect says. 

Mitch Clifton is a Senior Designer at Woods Bagot, a global architecture firm that specialises in complex projects across multiple sectors. Its portfolio includes data centres, commercial offices, education facilities and transport hubs. 

Clifton says existing office buildings present opportunities for data centre integration or conversion, adding that commercial structures “possess the necessary infrastructure for data centre operations”. 

He proposes that under-utilised areas in office buildings could house data processing equipment. 

“This approach maximises existing power and connectivity infrastructure,” he points out, adding: “The construction industry can target B-grade office buildings with large floor plates for potential conversion projects. In New York and Los Angeles alone thousands of suitable buildings exist.”

He adds: “This approach could revitalise underused commercial space, and the construction industry could benefit from retrofitting projects.” He adds that data centre integration also has great potential for the residential construction sector. 

“Data centres can support affordable housing development because heat generated by servers can be repurposed,” he explains. "Excess heat can be captured and recycled to provide heat for the local community." 

Data centres can help heat affordable housing

As examples, he cites the Equinix PA10 facility in Paris, which heats an Olympic training pool, and Meta's Odense Data Centre in Denmark, which provides heating for 7,000 homes. 

“These demonstrate how construction firms can incorporate heat recycling systems during data centre development,” he says. “The implementation requires coordination between data centre operators and local infrastructure providers."

Clifton also points out that because companies are enhancing their services through AI integration, the partnerships they have with tech firms impact data centre design and construction requirements. 

He goes on to point out that, unlike many countries in the developed world, Australia lacks purpose-built AI data centres, and that this “presents an opportunity for the construction sector to develop expertise in AI-optimised facilities”. 

He adds: “The design modifications needed for AI processing differ from traditional data centres, requiring adaptation from contractors and suppliers.”

Security an issue for mixed-use developments

Mitch adds that when part of a mixed-use construction project, data centre security becomes a significant factor in design and construction. “It’s a bit like security measures in airports, where secure areas coexist with public spaces,” he explains.

He continues: “Construction professionals must develop expertise in integrating security features seamlessly. The challenge involves balancing physical security measures with accessibility for other building users. Round-the-clock monitoring systems must be incorporated from the early design stages.”

The synergies between data centres and commercial and residential also extend to energy. Typically, solar panels cannot be installed on data centre roofs, due to equipment requirements. 

"But co-location with other building types provides opportunities for power offset," Mitch says. “Some data centres share sites with power generation assets, and construction firms must consider power supply when selecting locations.”

Mitch concludes: "Data centres will move closer to people and social cores in a way that prompts architects to consider the relationship between data centres, communities, and individuals.

"The construction sector holds the key to transforming data centres from isolated facilities into integrated community assets.”