Not a Tower -V0
The Vertical Symbiosis: Vancouver Data-Office Tower
The Vertical Symbiosis: Vancouver Data-Office Tower
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Where Digital Infrastructure Warms the Human Experience
Where Digital Infrastructure Warms the Human Experience
Project: Urban Data-Office Hybrid Location: Vancouver, BC Status: Conceptual Design / Development
Project Overview
Project Overview
We are redefining the typology of the urban skyscraper. In an era where digital storage is as essential as physical workspace, the Vancouver Data-Office Tower proposes a new symbiotic architecture. Rather than banishing data centers to the windowless outskirts of the city, this project integrates them vertically into the urban fabric, using their operational byproducts to fuel a human-centric workspace.
This is not just a tower; it is a thermal organism. By stacking high-density data servers with breathable office environments, we create a closed-loop energy system where the "waste" heat of the digital world becomes the lifeblood of the physical one.
The Design Logic: Solid vs. Void
The Design Logic: Solid vs. Void
The tower’s form is a direct expression of its dual function, articulated through a rigorous material logic of Concrete and Timber.
The Data Strata (Solid): The data center floors are expressed as monolithic, protective volumes encased in high-density concrete. These zones feature advanced, micro-louvered ventilation systems seamlessly embedded into the concrete skin—prioritizing thermal mass, security, and infrastructural performance.
The Office Layers (Void): Contrasting the heavy concrete, the office levels are articulated as permeable, light-filled pavilions. Framed in engineered BC timber and wrapped in high-performance glazing, these floors feature deep wood-shading louvers that filter sunlight and frame views of the city.
Thermal Symbiosis
Thermal Symbiosis
At the heart of the tower is an advanced Heat Recovery System. The substantial thermal energy generated by the server racks is captured and redistributed upwards. Through hydronic floor systems, this reclaimed energy provides radiant heating for the office levels above, drastically reducing the building's carbon footprint and reliance on external energy sources.
Biocentric Living
Biocentric Living
Rooted in the "Contemporary Vernacular" of the Pacific Northwest, the tower breathes. Terraces planted with BC native vegetation spiral up the façade, softening the transition between the technological and the natural. From the street-level retail to the cloud-level workspaces, the design prioritizes a connection to nature, light, and local materials.
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