Data Center Exterior Thermal Conditions Survey
A CFD Assessment of Mission-Critical Facilities
About the survey
This survey applies a single standardized exterior CFD methodology to several mission-critical facilities, using public-source inputs only. The intent is descriptive — to document how publicly attributed building designs behave under representative wind and emergency-operation conditions — rather than evaluative. Methodology, sources, and limitations are documented in full. Per-facility visualizations are available on request from the named MEP firm of record for each building.
What's covered
Each facility model resolves exterior airflow and thermal-plume behavior around the building: rooftop heat-rejection discharge, ground-level generator stack and radiator exhaust during emergency operation, and the resulting plume trajectories, recirculation patterns, and intake exposure. Interior thermal management, life-safety systems, and any aspect of as-built operational performance are out of scope.
Cohort
The initial cohort comprises several publicly attributed mission-critical facilities concentrated in the Northern Virginia data center corridor — the densest hyperscale market in the world and a useful proving ground for exterior-airflow questions in tightly co-located buildings. Subsequent cohorts will extend the survey to additional regions.
Frequently asked questions
- Is this survey peer-reviewed?
- No. It is independent in-house research published for transparency, not a peer-reviewed publication. The methodology and limitations are documented in full so readers can evaluate the work on its merits.
- Who funded the survey?
- Resolved Analytics conducted the survey at its own expense as an internal research initiative. No client, building owner, or vendor funded any portion.
- How can a firm see its own facility's results?
- The named MEP firm of record for each building can request its per-facility figures and a one-paragraph summary by contacting stewart@resolvedanalytics.com.
- Will additional facilities be added?
- Yes. Subsequent cohorts will extend the survey to additional regions and facility types. New cohorts will be added as separate sections of this site.
Disclosure. This is independent research conducted by Resolved Analytics without engagement, sponsorship, or input from the named firms or building owners. All inputs are derived from cited public sources; no proprietary drawings, specifications, or operational data are used. Results represent idealized exterior conditions and do not represent the actual as-built performance of any facility. No claims are made regarding life-safety, code compliance, or operational performance. All firm and project names are used solely for purposes of identification and remain the property of their respective owners. This material is not engineering services rendered to any party.