Data Pod, Philadelphia: Bioclimatic Studio 2020

Philadelphia has long past its hey-day of being one of the epicenters of the industrial revolution in the US. But it’s physical footprint, remains to this day. As environmental designers, the impetus was to use abandoned sites, starting with those consisting of a robust pre-existing structural framework, such as bridges and piers to accommodate the ever-growing demand for data storage in the digital era. Secondly, focusing on optimizing the performance of the module by utilizing local conditions to minimize energy and reduce carbon emissions. As a result, the facade we have developed uses passive strategies along with technology to adapt to the variable factors. Thirdly, establishing a symbiotic relationship between the ecosystem and the machine became integral to our intervention. By incorporating accessible, usable spaces for the public, we have achieved the duality of data center design: physical and digital connectivity. Striving to incorporate these goals, we present our solution for data centers in Philadelphia: The Data Pod.