FUTURE DATA CENTRE CONCEPTS FOR THE AGE OF AI

We were asked to explore the future of data centres. The goal was to imagine how these essential facilities might evolve to support the rapid growth of AI, improve energy efficiency and resilience, and integrate more positively with both natural and urban environments.
This exploration was commissioned by Zeno and developed in collaboration with AKT II for Lenovo. Together, we combined architectural thinking, engineering insight and industry research to create four design-led scenarios for the next generation of data infrastructure. Each concept looks beyond technical upgrades to consider how data centres could be placed, shaped and connected so they make better use of natural systems, reuse existing sites and offer benefits to the communities around them.
Insights from IT decision makers across multiple regions informed our criteria around performance, cooling, site strategy, data sovereignty and low latency. The result is a forward-looking study that reimagines the data centre as part of a wider environmental and civic landscape, rather than simply a container for servers.

We worked through a collaborative design and engineering process. Our goal was to test each concept not only as an idea, but as a system that responds differently to performance, regulation, resilience and environmental conditions.

To do this, we developed a series of comparative performance diagrams for all four typologies. These visual summaries illustrate how each concept performs against key criteria, including sustainability, environmental integration, data sovereignty, security and resilience, mobility and flexibility, regulatory adaptability, latency and public narrative. The diagrams helped us understand the strengths of each approach and guided how the concepts were refined.

The process included:

• Workshops to define environmental, structural and operational requirements.

• Generative modelling to test form, systems integration and spatial behaviour.

• Cooling and energy simulations to assess performance and circularity.

• Iterative design development across concepts such as the Data Spa and Data Village.

• Narrative and visual refinement aligned with the communication strategy led by Zeno.

These steps allowed the team to evaluate each future scenario holistically and ensure the final concepts are grounded in both design ambition and practical performance.

A key perspective guiding the work is captured by James Cheung, Partner at Mamou Mani:

“As architects and engineers, we have a responsibility to make data centres better, not just bigger. The Data Centre of the Future project combines the evolving needs of businesses with practical pathways, from reusing mines and bunkers to high altitude cloud modules, urban data villages and data spas that pair server heat with public amenities. Built around Lenovo’s liquid cooling technology, the concepts demonstrate how natural resources and existing locations can reduce overheads and return energy to communities. While we cannot predict the exact future of data infrastructure, this playbook offers a glimpse of ideas that could progress into real world pilots with greater speed and reduced risk.”

• The Floating Cloud: A high altitude data module powered by solar energy and naturally cooled with minimal land impact.

• The Data Village: A modular system positioned along waterways, using natural cooling and redirecting waste heat to support local amenities.

• The Data Spa: A landscape integrated facility that combines efficient cooling, natural topography and circular heat recovery.

• The Data Centre Bunker: A repurposed underground structure that benefits from stable temperatures, increased security and a reduced environmental footprint.

All typologies integrate Lenovo’s liquid cooling technology to remove heat at the source and improve overall efficiency.

The project demonstrates how future data centres can move beyond traditional layouts to become efficient, adaptable and environmentally responsible infrastructure. By rethinking cooling strategies, location, circular energy flows and the reuse of existing or natural environments, the design study reveals pathways for organisations to reduce impact while supporting the expanding demands of AI and digital infrastructure.

Here are relevant publication links you can include under Press & Publication for the project page:

• The Data Centre of the Future – Lenovo StoryHub Lenovo StoryHub
• Traditional Data Centres ‘Not Fit for Purpose,’ Say Half of EMEA IT Leaders – Lenovo Press Release Lenovo StoryHub
• Lenovo Data Centre of the Future Concepts – Lenovo Press

For organisations exploring sustainable, resilient or next-generation data infrastructure, contact Mamou Mani to discuss how these future-focused concepts can inform your next architectural or strategic development.