DESIGNING FOR A DIGITAL FUTURE Best Practices in Data Center Architecture
By Jose Reyes, AIA, NCARB, LEED AP BD+C Director of Science + Technology, AO
AS
digital transformation reshapes the global economy, the demand for data centers has never been greater — or more complex. From powering everyday cloud storage and streaming services to supporting the explosive growth of artificial intelligence, data centers are the critical infrastructure behind our digital lives. Their design, however, is anything but standard. The architecture of today’s data center must evolve in step with rapid shifts in technology, regulation and sustainability. Across regions and facility types, one-size-fits-all approaches no longer apply. Instead, successful data center design hinges on the convergence of four key principles: smart design, technical fluency, environmental responsibility and deep collaboration.
56 MANN REPORT | AUGUST 2025
Photo courtesy of AO
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