Why are datacenters built over a wide area instead of using taller buildings?
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I've seen a lot of datacenters pictures and it seems that the owners prefer to build them over a wide area instead of building them using taller buildings. Why?
I've been in multistory data centers. And I'll bet they are all the rage inside big cities. I'm no construction engineer, but I suspect it is cheaper in most areas to use a bigger footprint than to build multiple stories.
One summer and One Wilshire and 111 Eight Ave are not one-story buildings, but they're some of the most expensive real estate on the planet, by square foot.
As others have said, it all comes down to the price of the real estate vs the price of the building.
The question mentions "the owners" which implies single company, purpose built data centre.
In which case the company will be building from scratch and the location will depend on cost, not only of land, but power, local tax, water for cooling, ....
On the other hand you have shared data centres which are quite often built in central locations and often built upwards or reuse an existing structure.
Because they don't need to be located somewhere land/real estate is expensive.
Tall buildings are cost effective when the expense of the structure is less than the cost of the footprint.
I'm guessing its due to easier cooling, better weight distribution, cheaper land costs, and ease of moving equipment around. Hot air rises, after all.
Well, because they're data warehouses. And warehouses are single-story. Makes sense to me.
I've been in multistory data centers. And I'll bet they are all the rage inside big cities. I'm no construction engineer, but I suspect it is cheaper in most areas to use a bigger footprint than to build multiple stories.
One summer and One Wilshire and 111 Eight Ave are not one-story buildings, but they're some of the most expensive real estate on the planet, by square foot.
As others have said, it all comes down to the price of the real estate vs the price of the building.
The question mentions "the owners" which implies single company, purpose built data centre.
In which case the company will be building from scratch and the location will depend on cost, not only of land, but power, local tax, water for cooling, ....
On the other hand you have shared data centres which are quite often built in central locations and often built upwards or reuse an existing structure.
I don't think this was mentioned, but security could also be a consideration.
If a tall building falls every server is going with it.