Chapter 5. Site Selection

"It is my belief, Watson, founded upon my experience, that the lowest and vilest alleys in London do not present a more dreadful record of sin than does the smiling and beautiful countryside."

” Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

When housing a data center in an existing building, several design issues must be considered to choose the best location. Careful planning is essential to assure that a location will meet not only immediate needs, but future needs as well. In the event that a building or area must be built to house the data center, there are even more considerations. The build-to-suit option typically offers more flexibility than utilizing an existing area, but careful planning is still essential. Looking ahead and planning the site and layout with forethought can save tremendous amounts of time, money, and aggravation. Poor planning often means costly upgrading, retrofitting , or relocating.

This chapter contains the following sections:

• "Geographic Location"

• "Data Center Site Selection"

• "General Site Considerations"