727 Grand, a groundbreaking proposal for a downtown Los Angeles data center, introduces a distinctive design that transforms the building into an architectural landmark. The focal point of the building is a dynamic facade that defines the building's essence.

Unlike conventional structures, the entirety of the building, apart from glass-framed cutouts along its frontage, will be windowless. This programmatic requirement enhances security for the data suite floors while safeguarding the privacy of nearby residential buildings. To avoid a monolithic appearance incongruent with the vibrant vision for Downtown Los Angeles, a creative panel system is employed.  The panels are designed with a sequence of triangular profiles that transition from smaller to larger angles, breaking up the building's length and scale.

This playful facade, characterized by its interplay of light, shadow, reflectivity, and form, undergoes constant transformation throughout the day and year. Striking a delicate balance between solidity and ephemerality, it acts as a soft veil enveloping the entire building. At the ground floor, this veil gracefully lifts, revealing the active program within, seamlessly integrating with street level.

The distinctive parametric facade also serves a dual purpose by providing shading and cooling to reduce energy consumption. Heavy energy usage of the data center provides heat exchange to the surrounding community. 727’s unique facade lowers the need to artificially cool the servers, saving energy and reducing the carbon footprint and impact. The use of light-colored, reflective material further minimizes the heat island effect, decreasing the reliance on artificial server cooling—a factor that typically constitutes 40% of energy usage in traditional data centers. The building is equipped throughout with highly efficient equipment and the facade is lifted off ground level to provide activation and promote walkability in urban settings. Additionally, the building's design includes features to minimize exterior lighting, further mitigating light pollution in the downtown area.

Furthermore, to harmonize with the architectural style of nearby office buildings, 727 Grand incorporates opaque glazing units into its façade. These units are designed to echo the architectural language of the ground floor, where the façade raises to reveal the lobby and office space behind it. The use of these glazing units adds depth and interest to the building’s exterior, ensuring that 727 Grand integrates smoothly with its neighbors while still maintaining its originality and prominence.

Additionally, the project features lush, landscaped terraces that enhance the visual appeal of the building and provide neighboring units with a more scenic landscape. These green spaces offer a refreshing burst of nature amidst the urban surroundings, creating a striking contrast with the cityscape. They significantly contribute to the building's beauty, promoting a sense of well-being and connection to nature for those who experience the structure from the outside. By incorporating these elements, 727 Grand becomes more than just a data center; it transforms into a landmark that respects and enhances the aesthetic fabric of downtown Los Angeles.

The 230,000 SQFT project will feature a basement, a ground floor (Level 1), two floors of parking (Levels 2 3), nine floors of data suites (Levels 4 through 12), a thirteenth floor with backup generators (Level 13), and a roof level with mechanical and other equipment related to building operation. A loading dock, shielded from the view of pedestrians on S. Grand, will be located on the north side of the building and accessed via a shared driveway with the building to the north at 600 W 7th Street. 727 Grand replaces a 60-year-old parking garage with a landmark data center, boosting Southern California's tech infrastructure. In the heart of downtown LA near major trans-pacific fiber lines, its sculpted façade is activated by sunshine, with cutouts revealing vi-brant ground-level uses.

Beyond aesthetics, 727 Grand plays a crucial role in enhancing connectivity for end users across residential and private sectors. The proposed data center, with its layout encompassing various levels, seamlessly integrates utility with architectural ingenuity, making it a visionary addition to downtown Los Angeles.