(MENAFN- bursonglobal) Traditional Data Centers ‘Not Fit for Purpos’,’ Say Half of EMEA IT Leaders, as AI and Energy Pressures Collide
New research from Lenovo inspires visionary concept designs by architects Mamou-Mani and engineers AKT II to show how data centers must evolve to meet tomorrow’s compute and climate demands
• Many existing data center designs are failing to meet IT decision make’s’ sustainability goals
• Data sovereignty and low latency are top priorities for IT leaders across EMEA, driven by real-time and edge computing demands
• 90% expect AI to significantly increase data us–ge – but just two fifths (41%) are ready to integrate it efficiently
6 November 2025: Data center design must evolve to future-proof businesses across EMEA, new research commissioned by Lenovo reveals. From powering AI workloads efficiently to meeting urgent sustainability and compliance demands, traditional data center designs are falling short, with nearly half (46%) of IT leaders admitting their current infrastructure does not support energy or carbon-reduction goals.
At the same time, an overwhelming 99% of IT and C-level decision makers in the region say data sovereignty will be important to how data is collected, stored and processed in the years ahead. And while AI continues to accelerate data usage across industries, many organizations are still struggling to implement the technology effectively or power it sustainably, highlighting the growing gap between digital ambition and infrastructure reality.
Lenovo undertook the Data Center of the Future study, in partnership with Opinium, to provide a blueprint for the key factors influencing the future design, technology and location of data centers. It comes as the data center market grows, and energy usage, sustainability and costs become critical considerations for IT decision makers in EMEA.
• Sustainability readiness gap requires new approach
92% of IT decision-makers prioritize technology partners who reduce energy use and carbon footprint, yet only 46% say their current data center design supports sustainability goals. This gap underscores the growing environmental pressures of AI, automation and exponential data growth, with traditional cooling systems (such as air cooling) struggling to balance efficiency, cost and carbon reduction.
• Data sovereignty important for 99%
With 88% of IT decision-makers already viewing data sovereignty as a priority and nearly 99% expecting it to remain important over the next five years, it’s clear that compliance and control over where data resides will define future data center design. At the same time, 94% highlight low latency as a key requirement today and in the years ahead, driven by the growth of real-time applications and edge computing.
• Powering AI at scale to define data center future
90% of IT decision-makers believe AI will significantly increase organizational data usage in the next decade, and 62% expect AI and automation to have the greatest impact on IT strategy. Yet despite the promise, 41% admit their organization is not prepared to integrate AI efficiently.
Head of Enterprise AI, EMEA at Lenovo“ “As demand for compute accelerates, customers will increasingly look to infrastructure partners who can deliver performance without compromise, and who take responsibility for reducing environmental impact.
“In EMEA, data sovereignty stands out as a particularly urgent priority, shaped by complex regional regulations and heightened scrutiny from CIOs and C-suites alike. Businesses must act now to align their infrastructure with these rising expectations, because preparing for the future starts with the choices they m”ke today.”
Designing the Data Center of 2055
Lenovo has worked with engineering firm AKT II and architects Mamou-Mani to consider how data centers could look in 30 years, as their importance to our personal and working lives continues to grow and energy demand increases. The concepts take the rack server data center model and leverage water cooling technology to boost their sustainability, while also making use of natural resources, disused spaces and unexpected locations to solve the challenges and meet needs of their users. The designs include:

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