Location: Shenzhen, China.

Architect: schneider+schumacher.

The Qianhai Telecommunication Center in Shenzhen is set to become the world’s first high-rise data center. As land prices in fast-developing cities continue to rise, it has become common to build high-rise office and residential buildings. Now, this principle is being applied to data centers, which are typically built low with only one or two floors and large plot sizes. However, due to its purpose, the building would look like a windowless machine that does not interact with its urban surroundings. To address this, the lower floors will hold an inviting and airy lobby as well as a post office, making the building an active part of public life in Shenzhen. The majority of the floors will be computer rooms, housing up to 3515 data units, with the controlling unit situated on the upper floors. To ensure a good work environment for employees, a large terrace has been incorporated on the 16th floor, providing daylight and an amazing view of the city and bay area. The building’s integration into its surrounding environment was also important, and the architects had to find a special design for the mainly windowless façade. This resulted in a breathtaking external cladding with movable elements that show the binary code of the universal number Pi. The 0’s are designed to move with the wind, creating a lively and interactive façade that reflects sunlight and builds a buffer zone to keep out heat from the building, thereby creating a cool climate for the computers. The roof top also supports a bigger air flow between the roof and the cooling units beneath, saving energy that would otherwise be needed for cooling. Overall, the Qianhai Telecommunication Center is a unique and innovative building that combines functionality with aesthetics and sustainability.

Photo credit: schneider+schumacher.