A Look At Google's Newest Data Center 75
miller60 writes "Google doesn't allow the public inside its secret data centers. But a recent groundbreaking event at the company's new South Carolina data center provided glimpses of the exterior of the facility, which shows a design that has evolved since Google's Oregon data center made front page news. A new feature: an open, lighted area resembling a parking deck (containers?). Still missing: moats filled with sharks with friggin' laser beams on their head."
Where do you sign up to play with toys like that? (Score:3, Interesting)
How long do you suppose you have to build data centers before Google hires you and tells you to go nuts? That's amazing, and I'd love to just walk around in it asking the guy questions who designed it.
I can't imagine how much electrical engineering, physics, and IT years of experience were required to put that thing together.
Anyone get to work in something approaching this level?
No, just normal... (Score:5, Interesting)
Having worked in a few data centers over the course of my life... They are continuing the long-standing tradition of nondescript concrete/cinder block buildings that have hosted data centers for decades.
Nobody, including Google, wants to advertise their data centers- they want them to look like ordinary warehouses or industrial buildings.
It's pretty much required from a security standpoint, and is why Google is very secretive of its data center locations. You might even have a Google data center in the airport industrial park right down the street.
Would you really expect a big steel and glass architectural wonder with "Google" emblazoned all over it? I would expect nothing more or less from a Google data center than a big ugly concrete box in an industrial park. They (big ugly concrete boxes) are easy to guard and air condition, and don't require a receptionist or PR staff.