Data Centre Masterplan Design: Principles and Best Practices02 May 2025
Designing a data centre masterplan is a multifaceted endeavor that blends time-tested principles with evolving priorities in energy, sustainability, security, and accessibility. Over the lifecycle of a campus - often developed in multiple phases over 20+ years - the early design decisions set the foundation for long-term evolution, making a flexible, forward-thinking masterplan essential.
Permitting and Local Requirements
Securing a power connection is the critical first step - without power, there is no project. Equally vital is understanding local zoning and permitting, which define what is achievable on site. Considerations include:
- Maximum building heights and site coverage
- Green buffers and landscaping requirements
- Surface water retention and permeable surface ratios (e.g., Norway’s Blue - Green Factor, Germany’s GRZ)
- Solar PV and green façade mandates
- Waste heat reuse obligations
- Community engagement and stakeholder input
Increasingly, local authorities expect more than just functional “tech sheds.” Aesthetic design, green walls, and architectural integration with the surrounding context are becoming standard.
Power Infrastructure
Large-scale campuses typically require a high-voltage substation - often occupying up to 10% of the total site area - whose placement is dictated by both external utility networks and internal power distribution needs. The masterplan must also accommodate step-down substations and extensive ducting networks - critical infrastructure that, if not properly planned, can limit future flexibility and growth.
Design Concept and Vision
A strong masterplan starts with a clear and compelling design concept. While power capacity (MW) is a primary driver, the plan should also focus on how the site feels and functions - how people navigate it, how buildings relate to each other, and how the campus operates over time. A robust concept supports consistency and adaptability, guiding decisions throughout the campus lifecycle.
Sustainability
Sustainability should not be a box-ticking exercise; it must drive masterplanning from the ground up. MCA incorporates:
- On-site renewable generation (e.g. PVs)
- Rainwater harvesting and filtration systems
- Waste heat recovery with potential for district heating integration
Designing for waste heat reuse is complex. It requires proximity to heat users and feasible infrastructure links. If only partial reuse is planned, the infrastructure needs may be modest. But for extensive heat recovery, the systems involved can significantly impact site layout, especially below ground.
Security Strategy
Security considerations are fundamental. The perimeter layout, fencing, and access control strategies directly impact available development space. Key concerns include:
- Vehicle entry procedures (e.g. vehicle locks, rejection routes)
- Segregated access for staff, visitors, and deliveries
- Visibility and access for security personnel
- Space allocation for security buildings and checkpoints
Security design must support both operational needs and future scalability.
Below-Ground Services and Landscape Integration
Underground infrastructure must be integrated into early planning - delaying civil coordination can constrain the entire site. Ducts, drainage, and IT routing require space and foresight. IT routes, in particular, cannot be disrupted once established, which places constraints on building sequencing and placement in later phases.
Landscaping is not just aesthetic - it helps large-scale buildings blend into the environment, mitigates visual impact, and can preserve or restore biodiversity. Even brownfield or industrial sites often have valuable habitats that should be maintained or reintroduced.
Perimeter buffers, habitat corridors, and thoughtful planting contribute to both planning compliance and campus identity.
Operations: Movement of People and Vehicles
Operational functionality is vital. Masterplans must consider:
- HGV and staff access (by car, bicycle, or foot)
- Fire tender routes
- Plant installation and crane access
- Waste disposal
- Emergency vehicle routes
Redundancy is critical - not just for systems but for access. If the main entrance is blocked, alternate routes must support uninterrupted operations.
Site Levels - Cut and Fill Strategy
Most Data Centre designs require level platforms. Uneven terrain must be carefully managed through balanced cut-and-fill strategies. Minimising spoil removal, retaining walls, and road gradients is crucial, especially for HGV circulation and cost efficiency.
Basis of Design (BoD)
A well-defined Basis of Design (BoD) offers clarity and consistency, even if it occasionally imposes layout constraints. To benefit a masterplan, adaptations may be necessary, and when done correctly both compliance and operational effectiveness can be preserved.
Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
CFD modelling is invaluable for optimising building placement by simulating airflow and temperature distribution, identifying potential hotspots, and informing decisions on generator shrouds and flue stack heights.
Phasing Strategy
Few campuses are built in a single phase. A successful masterplan must balance:
- Day-one infrastructure vs. future requirements
- Capital expenditure (CapEx) vs. operational expenditure (OpEx)
- Security and construction access for future works
Planning for future ducting or fibre routes - even years in advance - is vital to avoid disrupting live operations down the line.
Creating a data centre masterplan demands vision, flexibility, and coordination. By thoughtfully addressing regulatory compliance, power infrastructure, sustainability, security, and phased growth, a masterplan can be crafted that not only meets today’s needs but is resilient and adaptable for the future. With a holistic, informed approach, data centre campuses can continue to thrive well into the future.
Better is our blueprint.