Facilitating computer centers
The “Computer Center Concept – Update to the Commercial Real Estate Development Program” as resolved by the City Council on June 9, 2022, is destined to provide urban-planning guidelines for the growth of computer centers, a business sector with a strong future. At the same time, it is intended to factor in the resulting competition for real estate with other commercial usages within the commercial zones in Frankfurt. The relevant city departments accordingly revised and expanded the conservation and development goals enshrined in the Urban Planning Development Concept. The commercial parks in Frankfurt/Main will in future be subdivided as suitable zones, zones with restricted suitability, and zones excluded when it comes to non-in-house computer centers. The objective is to better consider competing needs for space and enable the best possible location conditions for non-in-house computer centers. Suitable zones are expected to be located in Sossenheim, Rödelheim, Griesheim, Gallus, Ostend, Fechenheim, and in Seckbach. The urban development planning will gradually translate the updated objectives into binding planning law.
The update to the Commercial Real Estate Development Program is only one part of a larger package of measures designed to integrate computer centers in a manner that is compatible with the urban fabric and climate considerations. A heat concept for the city as a whole will analyze the current technical, business, and organizational obstacles to the use of large volumes of waste heat in computer centers. Proposed solutions for better exploitation of these potentials will be devised.
The idea is to develop guidelines that focus, among other things, on issues such as built urban qualities, environmental and climate compatibility, and resource usage levels, and then ensure these are reflected in the planning, construction, and operation of computer centers.