Home / Knowledge Hub / The Connectivity Podcast / EP44: Sustainable data center architecture – part II

EP44: Sustainable data
center architecture –
part II

Marina Otero Verzier is an architect and researcher who in 2022 received Harvard’s Wheelwright Prize for a project on the future of data storage. She aims to publish the first open-source manual for global data center architecture design, featuring examples of ecological, sustainable, and egalitarian data storage models used in data centers across the world. Marina Otero Verzier’s work is especially urgent at a time when digital-data production is outpacing the scalability of today’s storage solutions, and AI usage is on the rise.

In this episode, Marina Otero Verzier and Mattias Fridström discuss:

  • Government involvement in the data center industry
  • New frontiers for data center design, like data centers in space
  • Physical security of data centers
  • Measuring data center sustainability
  • Quantum computing’s impact on data center design
  • The rise of decentralized networks of data centers, using a variety of architectures, complementing the traditional facilities
Mattias Fridström
Mattias Fridström
There’s a certain kind of person who gets a little bit too excited about networks. Mattias is that guy. If he had a tattoo, it would be of a network. Mattias holds an MSc in Electrical Engineering from the University of Wollongong, Australia. He joined Telia in 1996 and has worked in a number of senior roles at Telia Carrier (now Arelion), most recently as CTO. Since July 2016 he has been Arelion's Chief Evangelist. Mattias’ passion isn’t limited to networks: He has played golf professionally and competed on a high level in both football and floor hockey.
Marina Otero Verzier
Marina Otero Verzier
Architect & Researcher

Dr. Marina Otero Verzier is an architect and researcher. She is currently Dean’s Visiting Assistant Professor at Columbia University in New York City. In 2022 she received Harvard’s Wheelwright Prize for a project on the future of data storage.

 

(...)

Her winning proposal Future Storage: Architectures to Host the Metaverse examines new architecture paradigms for storing data and how reimagining digital infrastructures could meet the unprecedented demands facing the world today.

Through field research, data collection, and prototype development, Marina Otero Verzier aims to publish the first open-source manual for global data center architecture design, featuring examples of ecological, sustainable, and egalitarian data storage models. By looking at cases in Australia, Chile, China, Iceland, Netherlands, Nigeria, Singapore, Sweden, and the United States, Marina Otero Verzier investigated spatial and material innovations. This work is especially urgent at a time when digital-data production is outpacing the scalability of today’s storage solutions, and AI usage is on the rise.

Subscribe to our blog and keep up-to-date on news, insights and happenings.

As a subscriber, you will receive:

  • Monthly newsletter summarizing news and events
  • Invitations to events and webinars hosted by our technology gurus
  • Notification each time there is a new blog