HydraVault

HydraVault is redefining what digital infrastructure can look like in an urban setting. Designed by Gensler, the 76,000-square-foot, next-generation data center in Chicago’s South Loop is purpose-built for high-performance computing, from AI inferencing and large-scale model training to ultra-low-latency financial trading.

What sets HydraVault apart is its thoughtful integration into the urban fabric. The project reimagines an existing two-story masonry and heavy-timber building as a hospitality-infused hub with administrative workspace and a street-facing coffee shop, introducing an active public edge rarely seen in data centers. A new structure is linked to the restored building by a dramatic glass atrium, bringing light, transparency, and openness to a building typology that is typically hidden from view.

HydraVault demonstrates the potential of adaptive reuse in dense urban environments, reducing environmental impact, accelerating delivery, and offering cost efficiencies compared to ground-up construction. With its combination of advanced computing and thoughtful urban design, the project shows how high-performance infrastructure can coexist with, and even enhance, the surrounding community.