Broadening access to the profession is essential for fostering innovation, diversity, and resilience in the next generation of architects..
The conversation started by discussing the trends in data centre density..Driven by the relentless development of CPU and GPU processing power, the need for ever greater power and cooling density at rack level continues to increase exponentially.
Data processed has roughly doubled every two years from 2 zettabytes in 2010 to 149 zettabytes in 2024, and the trend continues.It was suggested that the increase in processor power will lead to rack density increasing, with the 1MW rack already being envisaged..The change at processor/rack level density is accelerating at a rate that brings challenges to construction project delivery.
When projects can take four to five years to realise, there might be a tenfold increase in rack density within that lifetime, creating a significant dilemma of what to build and how to pivot..The move from air-cooled to liquid-cooled solutions is key.
However, liquid cooling topology can be more complicated and expensive, so the trajectory for take up of this technology is still evolving.. Another disparity in scales arises between rack density and cooling technology infrastructure.
While density is increasing exponentially, cooling technology is not.“Design for Manufacture and Assembly” is a design approach.
Conventional design either has a presumption towards conventional construction or is agnostic regarding the construction method.Conversely, a DfMA design is developed to be constructed in a particular way..
When designing for manufacture and assembly, the designer must find the best way to meet the client’s requirements by considering the most efficient way to manufacture elements of the building and the most efficient way to assemble them on site.Manufacturing and assembly processes can be carried out in off-site or near-site factories and consolidation centres and also within the site itself.. DfMA means the designer needs to consider the construction methods that will be used from early in a project.