Specialist Knowledge
Data centres
Data centres are the backbone of digital infrastructure and play a central role in the development of modern society. They process vast volumes of data while also having a significant physical footprint. Designing and planning data centres therefore demands both technical insight and an architectural approach that carefully considers context – including landscape, culture, climate, and local communities.
Integrated design and advisory services
A complex building typology with broad impact
Data centres present unique architectural challenges. Their typology is technically complex, and because they are often developed at large scale, they have a significant impact on the landscape, infrastructure, and surrounding communities. The functional demands – such as high technical reliability, flexibility, and security – must be addressed alongside design considerations that mitigate the impact of scale and integrate the facility into its context.
Sustainability also plays a key role. This includes energy efficiency, material choices, and long-term durability, but also how the data centre can contribute positively to its setting – for example, through landscape design or by opening up new uses for former agricultural land. In this way, a functional facility can also become a valuable landscape asset.
At the same time, the scale of investment and the pace of the industry require a high level of risk awareness and decisiveness, where even small adjustments can have major consequences. This makes experienced-based advice and proven solutions essential.