If your business has a data center inside of it, you need to make sure it is designed properly. Data center architecture may be one of the most important things you focus on simply because it encompasses so much. If you don’t work with an architect that is familiar with the environment of a data center, you could be setting yourself up for disaster without even realizing it. For this reason you need to make sure you make it a focus. Machines Create Heat You have to make sure you and your architect understands all of the details to data center architecture. Machines – that includes computers and servers – create a significant amount of heat. If you aren’t careful, they are going to generate too much heat – and that’s going to lead to major problems. If your machines heat, they can be destroyed. These machines are likely your backup and your backup’s backup. If they get destroyed, you could be losing a significant amount of data – and your business may be looking at closing its doors, lawsuits and a variety of other complications that can be avoided. Talk to your architect about how to handle the heat. This includes fire systems, plenty of ventilation as well as different building materials for the room itself. View What’s Going On While you hope it never happens, you want to make sure that no one goes into the data center unauthorized. Depending upon the nature of your business, this may be risky. By making the data center a focal point instead of hiding it away in a storage closet somewhere, you can draw attention to it – and thereby draw attention to anyone who may be going in without authorization. Consider a glass door or a full glass enclosure. Data center architecture can be anything you want it to be. With a glass wall, you will be able to view the data center every time you pass. This allows you to see if all of the lights are on, if there is anyone inside and if there are any issues – such as flashing lights, smoke or sparks. You shouldn’t have to open the door to the data center each time you want to check in on things. It should be automated enough that you don’t need to have personnel inside. But having a glass window or wall allows you to peek inside without disturbing the setting. Have Enough Room If you have one server, you have to ask yourself if this is going to be enough down the road. Even if you end up going with virtualization for your server room, you will still have some equipment. If you barely have enough room for your data center now, what’s going to happen when you need to eventually upgrade? Talk with your architect about data center architecture plans – and make sure you have all of the space you need now as well as down the road. Data center architecture is the heart of your building’s architecture. No matter how fancy the lobbies and offices are, the data center has to be a focus. Duane Bradshaw Architects, Houston architect, provides quality architectural design Houston services for professional, commercial, industrial, religious, high-tech and adaptive reuse spaces.
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