Urban Data Center: An Architectural Celebration of Data

| URBAN | : an architectural celebration of

data

| CENTER |

| URBAN |

data

| CENTER |

| URBAN | : an architectural celebration of

data

| CENTER |

Urban Data Center: An Architectural Celebration of Data Gui Talarico Thesis submitted to the faculty of the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Architecture Paul Emmons [Committee Chair] Jaan Holt [Committee Member] Marcia Feuerstein [Committee Member] May 11, 2011 Alexandria, Virginia [ Keywords ] Data-Center; Containers; Data; Architecture [v]

[ creativecommons.org ]

All images, sketches, photographs and illustrations were created by the author unless otherwise noted.

All text and images included in this book are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0.

Unported [ CC BY-SA 3.0 ]

abstract Throughout the last century, the popularization of the automobile and development of roads and highways has changed the way we live, and how cities develop. Bridges, aqueducts, and power plants had comparable impact in the past. I consider each of these examples to be “icons” of infrastructures that we humans build to improve our living environments and to fulfill our urge to become better.

Urban Data Center: An Architectural Celebration of Data Gui Talarico

Fast forward to now. The last decades showed us the development of new sophisticated networks that connect people and continents. Communication grids, satellite communication, high speed fiber optics and many other technologies have made possible the existence of the ultimate human network - the internet. A network created by us to satisfy our needs to connect, to share, to socialize and communicate over distances never before imagined. The data center is the icon of this network.

Through modern digitalization methods, text, sounds, images, and knowledge can be converted into zero’s and one’s and distributed almost instantly to all corners of the world.

The data center is the center piece in the storage, processing, and distribution of this data.

The Urban Data Center hopes to bring this icon closer to its creators and users. Let us celebrate its existence and shed some light into the inner workings of the world’s largest network. Let the users that inhabit this critical network come inside of it and understand where it lives.

This thesis explores the expressive potential of networks and data through the design of a data center in Washington, DC.

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Printed December 2011

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contents an urban home

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zooming in

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concept + process

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introduction 21 inspiration 23 process 24

a new infrastructure 09 introduction

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data + center

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creating an icon

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data inspiration

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introduction the containers plans elevations sections renderings

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introduction

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bibliography

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beautiful data

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acknowledgments

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meaningful data

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Site Model Clay renderings of the selected site and surrounding buildings. The chosen site is shown in red.

Site Section Section through P Street facing South, from Dupont Circle [left] to Rock Creek Park [right].

an urban home

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zooming in

The City Satellite Imagery showing the location of the chosen site and its relationship to Washington, DC. The site is located on P Street NW Washington, DC. The “circle” slightly east of the chosen site, shown in red, is Dupont Circle.

The meandering curve west of the site is the south “tale” of Rock Creek Park.

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Satellite Imagery obtained from Microsoft Bing Maps.

Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft

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The Neighborhood Satellite Imagery showing the location of the chosen site and its relationship to P Street and Dupont Circle.

The chosen site is located south of P Street, between 22nd and 23rd Streets.

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Satellite Imagery obtained from Microsoft Bing Maps.

Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft

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The Street Photographic tour of P Street.

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North

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Photographs obtained from Microsoft Bing Maps.

Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft

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The Site Aerial view showing the chosen site and its relationship to the the city [above] and Rock Creek Park [below].

Aerial Imagery obtained from Microsoft Bing Maps.

Copyright (c) 2009 Microsoft

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a new infrastructure Throughout civilization, man has invented and re-invented technologies that become part of a fabric of infrastructure that support and enhance our everyday lives.

Bridges carried us across valleys and rivers. Aqueducts transported water beyond the boundaries of inhabitable environments. The water-wheel transformed the ever present energy of water into usable mechanical energy. A Steam engine, a power plant, a power grid. Transportation and transformation, transmitting and transforming. Humans created grids to transmit that which is invisible to the human eyes. Electrons and waves of information can now travel continents at the speed of light. Networks were created networks of power and knowledge; invisible threads that connect continents and people in the blink of an eye.

Information and media are created, stored and shared on a grid that is accessible from nearly every corner of the world. The Internet: a black-box that has slowly introduced itself into society and changed how we communicate and interact; how we create and share; how we shop, read, and write; how we discover.

As we are connected, strength comes through the wire. Moving knowledge between us, is and will always be valuable to us. Without sharing, personal experience would remain cemented, lost forever in the current moment of now.

This technology doesn’t replace, it enhances human experience. It’s the compromise of physical data, rational processing, and irrational responses. Technology can only be what we make it. The argument of nature versus human technology becomes extinct, the moment we realize that there will be no satisfying the human need to constantly move forward. Impossible is trying to incapacitate this momentum like it is not an inherent part of the human spirit. To create, To share. To connect. We created a network.

[ opposite ] Human Infrastructures Photo-collage of icons of infrastructures.

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Human Infrastructures 2 Drawn as one continuous line, this sketch took my pen for a trip through the history of the “human infrastructures� mentioned on the adjacent page.

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Data centers house and empower the internet, one of the most influential modern technological systems. They are important building-machines on which most of us rely for many of our daily activities. One of the goals in creating an Urban data center is to bring the machine closer to its users, and to let it reveal its secrets. The vision was to use power and scale to amaze and educate. To create an icon for this network we so consistently depend on.

creating an icon

But what is this icon? Often the “representatives� of other infrastructural classes demonstrate absolute honesty. There is implicit reason in the shape and form of the aqueduct; the most efficient way to span valleys and transport water given the materials and construction methods of the time. A silo, a water wheel, a highway. Honest icons that represent what they do.

Data centers are icons of our modern networks, but what should this icon look like?

To explore answers to this question, one must understand the essence of what these buildings do.

As a working analogy, I thought of this data center as an organism. As a living creature, it breathes; it consumes energy; it has short and long term memory. It processes information at incredible speeds. Water, electricity and air circulating through its veins powering digital muscle and motion.

Acknowledging the critical role of this organism in society, each of its sub-systems [organs] must be reliable and fully functional to ensure the safe and efficient operation of the creature. The failure of one organ could take down the entire monster.

But we need not worry. This seemly delicate yet omnipresent technology is protected by a powerful immune system, one that operates through redundancy. Ironically, this idea of repetitive security must peacefully embrace yet another necessary notion; that of efficiency.

A delicate balance must be achieved and its beauty found in its integral systematic simplicity.

The design would be a direct response to these issues: function, efficiency, redundancy, components, and meaning. [ 11 ]

data inspiration Data has existed for as long as humans have. Data is an abstract concept that we created as a mean of storing and organizing information.

Developments in computer science has allowed us to live in a world in which the storage of data is abundant and virtually limitless. Modern technologies and methods enables us to transform “almost� everything into storable data.

Although digital media cannot always do justice to its physical counterpart, it also has some advantages. Once into the digital realm, data can be duplicated and modified in non-destructive ways, and once again outputted into the physical world. Data can be processed, especially in mathematical means, at rates beyond human capabilities.

However the collection of data becomes meaningless when one cannot find suitable means to express it.

In the next few pages, you will see images in which I explored different ways of seeing, understanding, and expressing data.

[ opposite ] Pixelate Modified Photograph of Jean Nouvel’s Arab World Institute.

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beautiful data Photographing DC White dots plotted over a map of Washington DC. Each dot represents the “geotag” location of photographs that were uploaded to Flickr.com.

The image is a quick synopsis of what places are most photographed.

This image is a digital “remix” of an original image by Eric Fischer.

“Locals and Tourists # 7: Washington, DC” Posted on Flikr.com on June 5, 2010 [ www.flickr.com/photos/walkingsf/ ] Creative Commons License Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0

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Data Expression The image on the adjacent page [14] is worth 1,015,741 characters. The first 11,716 of these characters are shown in this page.

This computer code is expressed in hexdecimal code, which is a “simplification” of the more well known binary system. In this system, each character represents a unique combination of eight zeros and ones (a byte).

A total of 8,125,928 zeros and ones, or 85 pages like this one, would be needed to digitally “describe” the map at the current size and resolution.

[ 15 ]

[ 16 ]

Invisible Traces 1 Invisible Traces tell a story that is often forgotten: the expressive gestures our hands make as the mouse cursor travels miles and miles across the computer screen.

The movement of the mouse cursor was recorded during one hour as I work on the layout of this book. The rectilinear gesture echoes the up-and-down and side-toside movements associated with paning through the spreads.

While recording the mouse gestures, the cursor travelled a distance of over 1,710 feet in a period of about two hours.

Mouse Path Tracking Software by Andrey Shipilov + Anatoly Zenkov [ iographica.com ]

[ 17 ]

Invisible Traces 2 These lines record the movement of the mouse as the image shown on page 12 was created.

In contrast to “Invisible Traces 1” which shows a more centralized and rigid movement [ book layout ], this image expresses more fluid movements and denser activity near the screen’s edge [ image editing ].

This series of images help uncover invisible traces we create while working digitally.

Mouse Path Tracking Software by Andrey Shipilov + Anatoly Zenkov [ iographica.com ]

[ 18 ]

meaningful data Informative Expression This image is the result of a study in which I simulated the speculative status of 10,000 server-computers based on the assumption that a small percentage [3% - red ] is often inoperable, several are idle [17%], and most of them are active [80% - blue ]. The result is a seemingly random grid with 10,000 pixels, where each pixel is color coded based on the status of its corresponding server.

[ 19 ]

[ 20 ]

concept + process During the design process of Architecture, there is an unlimited number of possible successful solutions. Therefore, in the expressing of the ideas chosen it is essential to be able demonstrate how an idea was conceived [concept + inspiration], the paths that were chosen, and why?

The following pages are a compilation of photographs, drawings, and models that were an important part of my design process. While some ideas may have faded as the project concluded, many stayed, transformed, and served as the basis for other ideas and elements.

[ opposite ] Circuit Board Photograph of a circuit board. [ 21 ]

[ 22 ]

inspiration The Internet Never Sleeps Illustration showing an isle of servers in the dark.

Each of the vertical sections is a server-rack stack, and each horizontal division represents a server.

Typical servers are equipped with LED lights that are used to communicate status, failures, etc.

At night, the array of luminescence become a visual reminder of unceasing activity.

[ 23 ]

process Section Model This model was created early in the design process.

The goal of it was to study the most essential and necessary elements of the data center [servers, mechanical systems, and circulation].

This model was paramount in improving the scale and relationship between some of the elements [height of data-tower, height of atrium, etc].

[ 24 ]

Informative Expression 2 Overlay of server-status study shown on page 19 and hand-drawn axonometric of east facade.

The idea behind this drawing was that somewhere in Urban Data Center there would be a screen or a projection where the status of thousands of servers could be quickly visualized and understood through this dynamically created representation.

[ 25 ]

Conceptual Sketch One of the very first sketches of the data center.

[ 26 ]

Heat Sink Concept Quick sketch of a concept where the west facade of the data center would mimic a computer’s heat sink.

Heat sinks are metal components with thin fins that are used to dissipate and consequently reduce the temperature inside a computer.

[ 27 ]

[ 28 ]

West Elevation Studies Sketches of roof and elevation elements.

[ opposite ] Conceptual Plan Hand-drawn floor plan showing the server-stacks [red rectangles] and schematic diagrams of the water cooling system. [ 29 ]

Charcoal Sketch Hand-drawn sketch of north elevation.

[ 30 ]

North Elevation Studies Study sketches of structure, form, and enclosure.

[ 31 ]

Southeast Sketch Sketch of the of the office corner and the utility entrance.

[ 32 ]

Catwalk + Shading Studies of the relationship between containers and catwalk.

Lower sketches are studies of solar shading components.

[ 33 ]

Street View Early rendering of the northwest street corner.

Material transparency was forcefully added in order to reveal the supporting structure and stairs beyond.

[ 34 ]

Looking Up Early rendering showing north facade.

[ 35 ]

Data at Day Early rendering attempt to express the character the Center would have durgint the day.

[ 36 ]

Data at Night Urban Data Center at night.

[ 37 ]

[ 38 ]

data + center At last, concept and theory meet the physical reality and functional needs of a complex proposal.

The following are renderings, plans, sections, elevations, and narratives that address many of the issues found in earlier chapters and help add finality and realism to this theoretical proposition.

[ opposite ] Container Elevation Diagrammatic section showing data-containers and the access bridges. [ 39 ]

[ 40 ]

The Data-Containers

the containers

At the intial stages of the desgin, the Urban Data Center was going to be a standard rackbased server stacking system. This is the most common type of data center.

In order to better address the issue of scalability and adaptability, the final design incorporates the use of data-containers; furthermore, the containers became a center-piece of the design. In essence, the data-center functionality is exactly the same, except, as it will be mentioned below, the data-container scheme is a much more efficient system.

This Urban Data Center can hold a total of 48 data-containers. Each container, which measures 40’ in length, can hold up to 500 servers. These pre-assembled containermachines are already available and are and ready to run once electricity, cold water, and network connectivity are supplied.

The use of shipping containers in data centers offer a few advantages when compared to a traditional rack-based server stacking system. This scheme allows for data centers to be built faster and more efficiently. The containers, which can be centrally produced, can be shipped around the globe and installed as “plug-and-play� units. The installation of a single 40-foot container is equivalent to about fifty individual server racks [with forty servers per rack] .

But the single greatest advantage the data-container offers, is a simpler and smarter way to scale and upgrade data centers. As fast-paced computer technology evolves, servers quickly become obsolete. The solution to this challenge is to create a building that anticipates this need, and provides the logistical and mechanical framework for the containers to be removed and replaced with relative ease.

[ opposite ] Data-Container Typical 40-foot container.

Data-containers are already widely used and available.

This rendering shows some of the details and colors chosen for the custom-made containers for the Urban Data Center. [ 41 ]

[ 42 ]

Container Swap

X

X

X

X

Conceptual flow illustrations of container-swap scheme.

The skin for Center’s east elevation is composed of a grid of 48 operable “doors” that can be opened to allow for the swapping of datacontainers.

[ opposite ]

X

Data-Container Sliding Tray Conceptual design of sliding container tray. [ 43 ]

Typical Server-Rack Sketches and diagrams of a typical server-rack. Each one of these racks can hold around 40 server-computers.

[ 44 ]

Data-Container Diagram Diagramatic of sketch showing the interior of a data-container.

Each container can hold up to 500 servers [10 serverracks]

[ 45 ]

WATER SUPPLY

DATA CONNECTIVITY

[ 46 ]

AIR SUPPLY

POWER SUPPLY

SIDE-MOUNTED LOADING TRAY

Systems in Harmony Rendering of a typical container bay showing all the required mechanical systems.

WATER RETURN

[ 47 ]

[ 48 ]

plans Site Rendering Rendering of selected site.

This image helps understand the Data-Center’s relationship to the Rock Creek Park [left], and Dupont Circle [right].

[ 49 ]

N Office Plans Sketches of space distribution for the office tower.

[ 50 ]

Roof Plan Roof plan showing the relationship of the data center with Rock Creek Park and the adjacent streets.

22 Street

23 Street

P Street

[ 51 ]

Ground Plan [ 0 ] Ground plan cut at 5’ above grade.

Red: horizontal and vertical circulation.

Blue: office, support.

Green: public entrance.

Yellow: Containers White: Entrance

N [ 52 ]

50’

Typical Plan [ 2-6 ] Levels 2-6 are almost identical with the exception of the length of the bridges, and the office tower, where each level might be slightly different to accommodate office program requirements.

N

50’ [ 53 ]

Below Ground [ -1 ] Plan of the first level below ground. This is level is mostly dedicated to visitors of the data center [shown in green], with the exception of areas reserved for mechanical equipment [gray].

The visitor would access the “public zone” by descending through the stair or elevator on the north side of the center.

Once below ground the visitor would walk down the hallway and be able to stand on the only bridge that is accessible to the public”. From this bridge, the visitor is able to look up and see all the bridges and data-containers above while he or she is surrounded by the mechanical equipment that powers the data center [ see rendering on page 65 ].

N [ 54 ]

50’

Below Ground [ -2 ] Plan of the lowest level below ground. This level is enterily dedicated to mechanical equipment.

N

50’ [ 55 ]

elevations North Elevation

100’ [ 56 ]

West Elevation

100’ [ 57 ]

South Elevation

100’ [ 58 ]

East Elevation

100’ [ 59 ]

sections North-South Section Section facing East, cut through the bridges that lead into the datacontainers.

50’

[ 60 ]

East-West Section Section facing South, cut through the stairs on the north side of the data center.

50’ [ 61 ]

East-West Section Section facing South, cut through the main atrium.

[ opposite ] Container Hand-drawing shows a playful change of scales, from the city, to the building, to the container. [ 62 ]

[ 63 ]

[ 64 ]

renderings Visitor’s Experience Interior rendering from the public container-bridge.

[ 65 ]

[ 66 ]

View from Elevator View from inside the office elevator cabin looking norh.

[ 67 ]

[ 68 ]

North Stair View Interior rendering of the north stairwell at dusk.

[ 69 ]

[ 70 ]

Double Corridor View View looking south from the end of the main circulation corridor.

The catwalk-corridors were designed to give the center’s workers the option to walk indoor or outdoor as they walk from the office to the containers.

A view from the outer catwalk can be seen on page 64.

[ 71 ]

Outdoor Catwalk View facing South from the outdoor catwalk.

[ 72 ]

West Side Screen Renderings showing the heat-sink inspired aluminum shading devices.

[ 73 ]

[ 74 ]

East Side Panels Renderings showing the operable panels on the East facade in the process of opening.

[ 75 ]

[ 76 ]

bibliography Parke, Thomas. Networks of power: electrification in Western society, 1880-1930.

Baltimore: : Johns Hopkins University Press, 1983. Print.

Parke, Thomas, Agatha C., Michael Thad, and Gabrielle Hecht. Technologies of power: essays in honor of Thomas Parke Hughes and Agatha Chipley Hughes. The MIT Press, 2001. Print.

K., Philip. Multimedia information storage and retrieval: techniques and technologies.

Hershey: Igi Global, 2008. Print.

Rumsey Engineers, . “High Performance Data Centers: A Design Guidelines Sourcebook.”

Pacific Gas and Electric Company, Jan 2006. Web. Jan 2011. <http://hightech.lbl.gov/ documents/DATA_CENTERS/06_DataCenters-PGE.pdf>.

Shankland, Stephen. “Google spotlights data center inner workings.” News Blog. CNET, 30 May 2008. Web. 10 Feb 2011. <http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-9955184-7.html>.

“Google container data center tour.” Web. 23 Mar 2011. <http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=zRwPSFpLX8I>.

[ 77 ]

Thesis Defense From left to right: Gui Talarico, Jaan Holt, Marcia Feuerstein, Paul Emmons

Photo by Antonio Paz. Used with permission.

[ 78 ]

acknowledgements Thank you

mom + dad + rod + family for giving me all the love and support I needed + members of my committee for your guidance, support, patience, and wisdom + the following people who in their own unique ways have helped me during this journey Ben

Ames

+

Ace

Elsea

+

Henry

Hollander

+

Jaan

Holt

+

Joe

Iwaskiw

Noel Jerome + Mili Milagros + Javier Navarro + Rocio Sanchez + Danny Trejo + WAAC [ January 2009 : : May 2011 ]

[ 79 ]

a thesis by

.

G u i Ta l a r i c o

.

WAAC