POLICING DATA GARDEN

The Equitable Building has been retrofitted with a new core and roof structure to store, display, and make accessible an abundance of surveillance data, highlighting its impact on everyday life. The redesigned building comprises three integrated sections, echoing the original tripartite articulation: the top housing a personal data labyrinth, the core serving as the engine, and the bottom functioning as the lobby. Our design language merges architectural tectonics with machine-like elements.

The entry condition features a filled void that emphasizes the vaulted interior, drawing visitors into a space that becomes a key component of the building’s data storage system. The core section is composed of layered sections, designed to accommodate the non-human spatial requirements of servers, storage, cable management, and crucially, thermal exchange systems.

At the top, the labyrinth and roof garden are defined by walls that transform data into vivid color and imagery, confronting visitors with the unsettling reality of life in the data age.