What is data centre design?

A data centre is not merely a building with servers, it is a complex, resilient and highly coordinated environment that integrates architectural, civil, structural, mechanical, electrical and sustainability considerations to ensure continuous operation, scalability, and efficiency. Fundamentally, data centre design prioritises energy efficiency and resilience of operation.

Data centre design is a sophisticated, integrated process that embodies technical precision, operational resilience and environmental responsibility to produce and scale the digital backbone of modern economies and societies.

At its core, a data centre is a facility designed to host IT equipment such as servers, storage systems, and networking hardware. These facilities are equipped with robust power supplies, cooling systems, fire suppression mechanisms and security protocols to maintain uptime and protect sensitive data. The design must accommodate both front-of-house (FoH) areas, such as offices and meeting rooms, and back-of-house (BoH) zones, including loading docks, plant rooms and service yards.

Architectural and civil design priorities

Architecturally, data centres are inherently flexible, technical environments. Designers must consider site conformation, local regulations and client-specific needs. The architectural scope usually includes masterplanning, façade and envelope design, interior fit-out, and adjacencies of functional spaces. Civil engineering plays a vital role in connecting the data centre to external infrastructure like roads, utilities, drainage, and fibre & power ducting. Due diligence on topography, flood risk, and access logistics is essential.

Designing the electrical and mechanical systems

For data centres, electrical design ensures resilient power distribution through high-voltage substations, switchgear, UPS systems and backup generators. Redundancy, reliability and availability are key principles, often aligned with Uptime Institute Tier classifications.

The mechanical design focuses on managing the considerable heat loads generated by IT equipment and servers – an issue that’s only intensifying with the deployment of powerful and power-hungry AI chips. Cooling technologies include direct and indirect air cooling, chilled water systems, and advanced containment strategies like hot/cold aisle arrangements. External heat rejection systems such as chillers, cooling towers and adiabatic coolers, have to be selected based on site conditions and climate.

Sustainability and efficiency

Modern data centre design increasingly prioritises sustainability. Whole Life Carbon Assessments (WLCA) are used to benchmark embodied and operational carbon emissions from a facility. Designers aim to reduce energy and water usage, promote circular economy principles (reuse of materials), and enhance biodiversity impacts on the site’s surrounding environment. Metrics such as Power Usage Effectiveness (PUE), Carbon Usage Effectiveness (CUE) and Water Usage Effectiveness (WUE) help designers to quantify sustainability performance. Finally, how socially valuable a data centre is considered: it’s important to engage with local communities about a new facility, pursue relevant job creation, and ensure the centre harmonises with local ecological constraints.

Fire suppression and Building Management Systems (BMS)

Fire detection and suppression systems include aspirating smoke detection (e.g., VESDA), sprinklers and gas extinguishing systems.

The BMS acts as the operational cockpit of the facility. The BMS monitors and controls heating, ventilation and air conditioning, power, and environmental systems, often interfacing with higher-level client platforms for diagnostics and reporting. Communication protocols (e.g., BACnet, Modbus) and network architecture must be carefully designed for resilience.

Scale of facilities

Data centres vary greatly in size and scale – individual buildings can be 300m long by 100m wide (the size of 4 football pitches) developed on campuses that can accommodate multiple buildings, with power systems that often connect directly into a countries national power grid. At the other end of the spectrum, some clients require small, site-specific or modular data centre provision.

Client-specific standards and tools

The final element of data centre design addresses the bespoke standards and reference designs that clients require or want to work from. These guide performance requirements for the facility, its procurement strategies and BIM deliverables. Tools like CFD simulations, energy modelling, and Single Point of Failure (SPoF) analysis all help a new data centre to achieve design validation. Commissioning plans ensure systems are tested and optimised before handover.