Hey there tech fan! Have you ever wondered what exactly enables the modern digital world? I‘m talking about seemingly instantaneous video streaming, global communications allowing you to contact anyone anywhere, and smart technology adapting to your preferences. Well, behind the scenes are massive warehouses up to 7 million square feet in size – bigger than the Pentagon – filled with thousands of computer servers storing, processing, and distributing the world‘s data. These are called server farms or data centers.
Let me walk you through the 10 largest server farms ever built that essentially power life as we know it! When you realize the sheer size and capacity of these facilities, you gain perspective on how our reliance on technology ties to the infrastructure supporting it.
Why Server Farms Matter
First, let‘s get an overview of why these server farms even exist. As you know, the digital world runs on data – lots of data. In 2021 alone, the world generated 97 zettabytes of data. That‘s 97 trillion gigabytes! By 2025, that number is expected to grow to 181 zettabytes.
To store all this data, powerful computer processing is required. That‘s where server farms come in. Server farms are specially designed warehouses packed with thousands of computer servers in stacks. These servers allow data storage, processing, and distribution to take place on a massive scale.
For perspective, a single one of these facilities can have over 430 megawatts of power capacity. That‘s enough to provide electricity for 325,000 households! Server farms also utilize innovative cooling systems since all those working servers generate tremendous heat. We‘ll get into some of those details next.
Now let‘s examine 10 of the most extensive server farms ever built that essentially form the foundation of our digital world…
10. Next Generation Data Europe
Location: London, England, UK
Size: 750,000 square feet
Companies Hosted: Various
In the heart of London, this 5-block facility provides secure, sustainable data services to an array of clients. With space for over 19,000 server cabinets, Next Generation Data Europe meets massive storage needs while implementing efficient cooling methods. Their proprietary Direct Contact Liquid Cooling system minimizes water usage and reduces power consumption by up to 40%.
9. QTS Metro Data Center
Location: Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Size: 990,000 square feet
Companies Hosted: CenturyLink, Equinix
The QTS Metro Data Center in Atlanta offers 990,000 square feet of customizable data solutions. Their facility contains advanced physical security protections including mantraps, security gates, and reinforced walls. QTS Metro Data Center also stands out for sustainability – their innovative KyotoWheel system uses outside air for cooling, significantly reducing emissions.
8. Tulip Data Center
Location: India
Size: 1 million square feet
Storage Capacity: 8.5 Petabytes
Built in partnership with IBM, Tulip Data Center provides elite services for India‘s rapidly growing data storage demands. At over 1 million total square feet, the Tidal Engineering designed facility has enormous capacity – 8.5 petabytes translates to 8.5 million gigabytes! Sustainability is also key. Tulip Data Center leverages ambient air to efficiently cool servers.
7. Lakeside Technology Center
Location: Chicago, Illinois, USA
Size: 1.1 million square feet
Companies Hosted: CenturyLink, Facebook, IBM
This iconic data center in downtown Chicago leases server room space to major technology companies. Located just 1 mile from Lake Michigan, Lakeside Technology Center takes advantage of the cooler climate, using ambient air and water from the lake for natural cooling. The facility houses over 3,600 miles of fiber optic cablesmanaged by CenturyLink.
6. Microsoft Data Center
Location: West Des Moines, Iowa, USA
Size: 1.2 million square feet
Sustainability: LEED Gold Certified
In Iowa, Microsoft operates this 1.2 million square foot facility with plans to expand their national data center footprint even further to 6.3 million total square feet. Sustainability is a clear priority – the data center earned LEED Gold certification for implementing advanced cooling infrastructure and renewable energy solutions. Their innovative "server farm of the future" utilizes outside air for cooling.
5. Utah Data Center
Location: Bluffdale, Utah, USA
Size: 1.5 million square feet
Purpose: Intelligence data processing/storage
The Utah Data Center is operated by the National Security Agency (NSA) as a central hub for intelligence data activities. The $1.5 billion complex spans over 1.5 million square feet with a storage capacity of 12 exabytes (1.2 billion gigabytes)! The fortified campus can handle vast quantities of classified communications and surveillance data.
4. DFT Data Center
Location: Ashburn, Virginia, USA
Size: 1.6 million square feet
At 1.6 million total square feet, the DFT Data Center facility is about the size of 36 football fields! This Ashburn, Virginia site contains tens of thousands of secured servers operated by undisclosed technology clients. Companies rely on DFT‘s infrastructure for cloud services, content delivery, and IT management. The facility utilizes strict biometric authentication and 24/7 monitoring to keep sensitive information safe.
3. Switch SuperNAP
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Size: 3.5 million square feet
Power Capacity: 430 megawatts
The Switch SuperNAP Facility just outside Las Vegas is a data center on super-steroids, spanning a whopping 3.5 million square feet. That‘s about 75 football fields! SuperNAP provides services to elite clients like Amazon, Google, Apple, and the U.S. Government. Here are some mind-blowing stats:
- Power capacity of 430 megawatts – enough for 325,000 households
- Scalable to over 2,000 watts per square foot
- Up to 98.00% average cooling efficiency
2. Range International Information Group
Location: Langfang, China
Size: 6.3 million square feet
China‘s Range International Information Group operates over 6 million square feet in data center real estate as they aim to corner the server farm market in Asia‘s booming tech economy. Range International continues rapid expansion to meetprojected growth in China‘s cloud computing industry, expected to reach $60 billion by 2023.
1. The Citadel
Location: Reno, Nevada, USA
Size: 7.2 million square feet
Power Source: 100% Renewables
Under construction now, The Citadel will claim the crown as the largest data center on Earth at an unimaginable 7.2 million square foot footprint – bigger than the Pentagon! Located near Tesla‘s Gigafactory, the facility will remarkably rely completely on renewable wind, solar and geothermal energy to operate. That‘s right – the world‘s biggest server farm will be 100% powered by clean energy.
The Citadel exemplifies where data center technology is headed – brighter and greener. Other facilities are also embracing sustainability measures from DLC server cooling to modular data halls. Government agencies aim to consolidate data centers for optimized efficiency as our reliance on data grows.
So next time you‘re video chatting with a friend abroad or backing up precious photos to the cloud, remember the innovations powering our virtually enhanced lives!
