How Data Centres Are Driving Innovation in Sustainable Infrastructure Solutions

Our cities are growing increasingly digital, leading to data centres becoming designated as Critical National Infrastructure (CNI) in the UK. At this year’s FOOTPRINT+, industry leaders came together to reimagine what data centres can be—not just more efficient, but more integrated with the communities and ecosystems around them.

“We’re all wrestling with a climate emergency,” said Martin Wright, Chief Architect from Pure Data Centres. “So, we need to be designing data centres as sustainably as possible.”

Opportunity to Design for Environment and Community

At Viritopia, we’ve long believed that the built environment should be designed for healthier people and planet - data centres included. That belief was echoed across panels, with a clear consensus: we must reimagine data centres as multifunctional assets—spaces that support biodiversity, mitigate climate impacts, and offer meaningful benefits to local communities.

Pure DC’s North London facility is a case in point.

“We realised that we had an opportunity to do something different,” said Martin. “We’re next to some of the busiest roads in the capital… and we established that with the right plant species, living walls could provide a form of air purification for the environment.”

This approach isn’t just environmental—it’s social.

“We recently planted a tiny forest in Barnet, where our first data centre in London is located,” said Sam Grady Director of Strategy at A Healthier Earth. “Just under 300 schoolchildren helped us plant it. It’s about community engagement and bringing the next generation of pioneers into this space.”

Biochar: A Game-Changer for Green Infrastructure

Among the most talked-about innovations was biochar—a carbon-negative material that stores carbon long-term and significantly improves water retention in planting substrates. It’s a solution Viritopia has been actively trialling in partnership with A Healthier Earth and Pure DC.

“We thought building the world’s largest living wall would be cool,” said Sam, “but we thought we could still do more. So, we’ve been working with Steve McIntyre and the team at Viritopia…to trial the inclusion of biochar in the substrate. And we found that we can reduce the water consumption of this wall to up to 70%.”

This trial showed promising results:

• Increased water use efficiency: Biochar can reduce water use by almost 50% when 40% of the peat-based substrate is replaced.
• Minimal impact on plant growth: Normal plant physiology was maintained. Plant rooting was only impacted at the highest addition rate of 40%.

These results are now informing our rollout plans—we’ll be introducing biochar into our substrate at a rate of 10% which will allow us to focus on long-term performance and fire compliance. Simultaneously, we’re launching a peat-free trial for clients seeking even more environmentally friendly solutions.

Investing in the Future: Community and Education

While materials and technologies matter, long-term sustainability also requires cultural investment—especially in the next generation.

“Even with the world’s biggest living wall, we’re not going to scratch global carbon targets,” Sam noted. “But what we can do is showcase best-in-class technologies and get communities to engage with them. That education piece is critical.”

That’s why projects like community living walls in schools, like the one we’re building as part of the project we’re working on with Pure DC – are so important. They bridge the gap between innovation and understanding.

“It gives the kids the chance to engage with a piece of the built environment, to look after it, and understand why it’s in their community,” Sam said. “It turns a data centre from a distant facility into something they’re proud of.”

The Future of Green Infrastructure: Building Greener, Smarter—and Together

For Alex Soto, Associate Director from studioNWA it’s a simple decision:

“If I’m designing large plan facades in urban settings, we have to go vertical because we’re constrained on site. So as an architect, living walls gives us an opportunity to introduce another material to create a layering effect…and helps to mitigate the heat island effect which is important in urban settings.”

Across all the discussions, one message was clear: we can’t build data centres the old way and expect different results. Sustainability needs to be baked in from the outset—from adaptable modular design and nature-based integration to community-first thinking.

“Our message today is that the future of data centres has to be cleaner and greener,” said Steve McIntyre, Principal Environmental Consultant from Viritopia. “It’s not just about putting up a steel box. It’s about designing with the natural environment.”

“My hope,” added Sam, “is that the work we’re doing now starts to have a multiplier effect—teaching the next generation what’s possible and driving demand for greener spaces from the community up.”

What’s next for Viritopia?

FOOTPRINT+ wasn’t just an opportunity to share what we’ve been working on; it was a catalyst for future action. Looking ahead, our focus is clear: scale with integrity, innovate with purpose, and always design with nature in mind.

From expanding our use of biochar in living infrastructure, to exploring the range of green infrastructure strategies that make data centres measurably greener, we’re translating learning into action.

We’re also deepening our commitment to collaboration, working more closely with partners like Pure DC and A Healthier Earth to push the boundaries of what's possible in sustainable infrastructure globally.

At Viritopia, we believe that every building, is an opportunity to restore ecosystems, capture carbon and inspire communities and we’re proud to play an active part in redefining what data centres can do, and who they can serve. Because when designed right, they can power more than just the digital economy—they can help power a regenerative, resilient future.