Data Centres Go Exotic

Some companies are getting creative with their server farms in an effort to cut energy costs and enhance security.

- Jonathan Vanian

TECH  A LO T GOES ON BEHIND THE SCENES every time you “like” your friend’s baby photos or search for recipes. Thousands of powerful computers retrieve and update the information on your screen.

Although important, the windowless, football field-size buildings that house those computers aren’t exactly exciting. But a number of companies have built data centres in unusual locations, giving them a touch of mystique.

In Sweden, for example, Facebook constructed a data centre that uses chilly Arctic wind to prevent the computer servers inside from overheating. Meanwhile, Microsoft is researching how to build underwater data centres that would require less energy to cool.