Balancing Function and Accessibility In older data centers, future expansion was often an afterthought. In AI-driven facilities, it is the first thought. Designers must anticipate not only where systems will go, but how to access them later. A technician who cannot safely reach a valve or disconnect an optical fiber trunk in an emergency represents a critical design flaw. To solve this, designers employ service corridors and swing spaces, ensuring that every mechanical and electrical component remains accessible. These corridors also serve as safety buffers, maintaining isolation between potentially conflicting systems— liquid, electricity, and data. The New Definition of Coordination The art of routing in AI infrastructure is more than an exercise in geometry—it is a philosophy of interdependence. The goal is not simply to fit Electrical systems must deliver stable power without encroaching on cooling space; cooling systems must remove heat without endangering optical fiber integrity; and optical fiber must maintain pristine performance amidst mechanical and thermal turbulence. The result is an ecosystem in motion—a carefully engineered choreography of power, liquid, and light ...
3. Optical Fiber and Data Cabling – High-density optical fiber trunks, structured pathways, and modular interconnects linking AI nodes.
now indispensable. Designers overlay electrical, mechanical, and ICT systems in a shared digital environment to identify spatial conflicts before a single conduit or cable tray is installed. Clash detection algorithms flag potential collisions, saving money and countless hours in rework. • Dedicated Routing Zones : Facilities are increasingly being built with clearly defined “routing strata.” Overhead spaces might be segmented into power-only corridors, liquid-only manifolds, and optical fiber-exclusive tray systems, each physically isolated by barriers or raceways to minimize interference and make inspections easier. • Separation Standards : Strict routing rules govern physical relationships: liquid lines never run above electrical conduits; electrical busways maintain clearance from optical fiber trays; and optical fiber paths are kept separate from high-heat zones. These separations protect both uptime and personnel safety. • Redundant Containment and Leak Management : With liquid cooling, facilities are adopting dual-containment piping, drip trays, leak detection sensors, and automated shutoff valves. A single coolant leak in an AI hall can damage millions of dollars in hardware. 7 • Color-Coded Pathways and Smart Labeling : Visual organization has become a design strategy. Color-coded trays and lines allow technicians to identify system types instantly, reducing human error during maintenance or upgrades. QR-coded tags and digital twin databases now link every physical element to real-time system data. • Modular Pathway Design : Cable trays, busways, and pipe racks are increasingly built in modular sections that can be expanded or swapped with minimal disruption. This approach accommodates rapid capacity scaling without requiring demolition or rerouting.
Each discipline depends on the precision of the others. A misplaced conduit or misaligned pipe can create cascading problems—from EMI interference to physical inaccessibility during future upgrades. In facilities where racks draw 100 kW or more, even small mistakes can be catastrophic, leading to downtime, safety hazards, or thermal inefficiencies. THE ROUTING PUZZLE: POWER, LIQUID, AND OPTICAL FIBER IN TIGHT QUARTERS Inside hyperscale AI halls, every cubic inch matters. The walls may be vast, but usable space feels scarce once you begin layering in the infrastructure required to feed, cool, and connect modern GPU clusters. Designers must orchestrate a labyrinth of high-voltage conduits, massive optical fiber bundles, chilled-water loops, cable trays, and exhaust pathways—all within spaces so dense they can feel more like submarines than server rooms. The margin for error? Practically zero. Each system—electrical, mechanical, and ICT— competes for the same ceiling and floor real estate— yet all must fit and coexist in perfect harmony. The order of installation has become non-negotiable, a hierarchy carved out through experience and necessity: 1. Electrical Distribution – High-voltage and low-voltage pathways, switchgear feeds, and busways form the backbone of the facility. 2. Liquid Cooling Infrastructure – Chilled-water supply and return loops, direct-to-chip manifolds, and hydraulic distribution units. 6
4. Airflow Systems – Supplemental ventilation and exhaust, ensuring secondary thermal balance.
5. Service and Maintenance Access – The often- overlooked but essential clearance for technicians to inspect, repair, and expand systems safely. Each discipline depends on the precision of the others. A misplaced conduit or misaligned pipe can create cascading problems—from EMI interference to physical inaccessibility during future upgrades. In facilities where racks draw 100 kW or more, even small mistakes can be catastrophic, leading to downtime, safety hazards, or thermal inefficiencies. The Challenges of Convergence The complexity lies not just in fitting these systems together, but in doing so while meeting strict safety, redundancy, and serviceability requirements. Liquids and electricity are uneasy neighbors and optical fiber cables and cooling lines do not bend to convenience. Each component has its own rules, tolerances, and failure modes, and they must all coexist within a space where physical conflicts are just one poor design decision away. To make matters even more difficult, AI centers evolve rapidly. Today’s “final” layout may be obsolete within 18 months, as newer GPU architectures demand different rack densities or cooling strategies. 6 Designers must therefore think modularly, building systems that are not just functional for today, but adaptable to tomorrow. Engineering the Solutions Modern ICT designers have become part engineer and part choreographer. Routing is no longer a task— it is an art form guided by foresight, discipline, and coordination across trades. Successful projects share one trait: Collaboration begins early.
• 3D Coordination and BIM Modeling : Advanced building information modeling (BIM) tools are
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ICT TODAY
January/February/March 2026
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