Exterior living wall
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Union Park
One data centre campus, three uniquely designed buildings, and a modular living wall system that’s adaptable enough to accommodate the aesthetics of each one.
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Background
Living walls for sustainably designed data centres
Union Park is a campus of AI-ready data centres on the Bull’s Bridge Industrial Estate in Hayes, London. Developed by Ark, the site was designed to meet a higher standard for sustainability in a sector not typically known for it.
The scheme prioritised both environmental performance and visual impact. Renewable energy, recyclable materials, and green infrastructure were built into the design, with biodiversity a key requirement driven in part by Hillingdon Council. As the site is close to a river, it was also important to "camouflage" the buildings into their natural surroundings.
With multiple data centres planned across the campus, the project team needed a green wall partner that could:
- Advise on the best living wall design for each building
- Deliver long-lasting, aesthetically pleasing final products
- Reduce the massing of the buildings with a unified visual aesthetic
- Move at the fast pace required in data centre development
Known for our data centre green wall expertise, Viritopia was chosen as the partner to help Ark, NWA, and Sweet Projects deliver a cohesive living wall solution across the Union Park campus.
“Union Park embodies Ark’s commitment to secure, sustainable data centres. This 56,000m² campus employs onsite solar, advanced air cooling, and rainwater harvesting, alongside living roofs and walls that enhance biodiversity. With 100% renewable power from the grid and HVO backup generators cutting emissions by up to 90%, Union Park meets rising digital demands while championing a low-impact footprint.”
Ark Data Centres
Strategy
One living wall system for distinct & complex façades
The data centre campus’s green walls were initially planned with ivy screens and troughs. But with biodiversity objectives driving the project, our team recommended combining the ivy panels with Viritopia’s modular living wall system.
Our modular system is rooted in soil, which allows for a greater variety of plant species, such as native bulbs, wildflowers, and plants with thicker foliage. The soil also provides microhabitats for burrowing insects and invertebrates.
The Viritopia living wall system was also adaptable enough to meet the unique needs of each building. For one data centre with perforated steel cladding, we concealed the drainage system using flexible pipework routed behind the façade so that visible pipes wouldn’t detract from the aesthetic.
Our modular living wall system’s flexibility to accommodate unique façade designs made it the ideal solution for this data centre campus.
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Need to install living walls on a tight construction timeline?
Viritopia’s modular system is designed for efficiency, with plants pregrown offsite in our nursery so that modules arrive ready to install. Installation is split into two phases: a first fix for structural elements and irrigation, followed by a second fix where plant modules are installed.
This approach reduces time spent on-site, avoids delays tied to plant growth, and ensures the living wall looks full and established from day one.
Energy-efficient, AI-ready data centres
Together, the project team delivered three AI data centres with green walls — each one meeting the Council’s planning criteria and supporting sustainability.
The campus achieved its aesthetic, environmental, and operational goals, creating high-performing assets that are ready for market.
- 2,252m² total vertical greening The green walls across Ark’s campus span 990m², 590m², and 672m², delivering large-scale impact.
- Improved energy efficiency The planting insulates each building — reducing heat gain in summer and retaining warmth in winter.
- Reduced visual massing Living walls help soften the façades and blend the data centres into the natural surroundings.
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Union Park
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Hayes, UK
Project gallery
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