Comment Re:Wasting (Score 2) 62
As described, after looking at their materials, I don't see an advantage to the radial design over a grid design. There is nothing to that which would improve airflow, and it leaves huge underutilized areas.
On the other hand, a traditional grid design optimizes the space, and it would still allow for the same airflow.
It's not a matter of being round, or having dead space, it's simple things we teach children. Square boxes don't fit through round holes. Round objects don't stack optimally.
One of the Equinix datacenters in Los Angeles (previously Pihana Pacific) has all of it's cooling on one side of the room, and returns on the other side. Each row is basically a wind tunnel. There is no appreciable temperature difference between the two sides. Both the front and back of the cabinets have the same airflow, and maintain roughly the same temperature.
As far as the total power load, they could keep the load the same, and have almost half of the building for just storage.
Of course, a square building that the industry uses as a standard for this kind of work, would not make the news. No one would be talking about it.
I guess if they have money to burn and real estate to waste, it doesn't matter what shape they make it or how much space is underutilized.