Digital Infrastructure: Meet Mylena Maximo
In this Digital Infrastructure blog series, we’re highlighting our data center design, delivery and construction experts and how they are accelerating our clients’ digital journey in the market sector.
Mylena Maximo is an architectural coordinator based in Brazil specializing in data center design. During her career at AECOM, she has overseen the completion of four data centers and 14 logistics warehouses. Her design principles navigate challenges such as energy efficiency and environmental impact. Her approach to staying current with rapidly evolving technologies allows her to be adept at customizing solutions for our clients.
Tell us a bit about yourself – your role and career journey.
For as long as I can remember I’ve always been fascinated with buildings and had a desire to pursue a career in architecture. I graduated with a degree in architecture in 2013 and joined an engineering firm with an architectural division, which gave me a great opportunity to interact with lots of different teams regularly and contributed significantly to my growth as an architect.
I joined AECOM in 2019 where I’m currently the architectural coordinator for AECOM’s Buildings + Places business in Brazil. Over the last 10 years, I’ve been fortunate to work on a diverse range of projects, including schools, water parks, residential towers, corporate real estate, and more recently, data centers and logistic warehouses. I’ve overseen the completion of four data centers with a total capacity of 120 megawatt and 14 logistics warehouses which has helped me refine my professional journey tremendously.
Talk to us about a project that has impacted or been a major highlight of your career. How is it solving the challenges and issues our technology clients and communities are facing today?
The market and demand for data centers are rapidly growing. On top of the intricacies of installations and equivalents in data centers, there is the complexity of the MEP requirements and the need for very meticulous coordination between Long Lead Equipment (LLE) in the initial design phases. On one particular data center project, I worked with a client who didn’t speak Portuguese. Initially I thought this would be a challenge and barrier, but it actually allowed me to be exposed to different global architectural practices and approaches and resulted in a really enriching experience.
Data centers play a crucial role in modern society, contributing significantly to community development in many ways. They facilitate digital transformation, support the development of new technologies like artificial intelligence, aid scientific research, and enhance community connectivity through improved access to information. It is rewarding to be part of a project that, when completed, will enable more efficient data handling and foster innovation.
What are the key considerations and challenges you take into account when designing a data center, particularly in terms of infrastructure, scalability and energy efficiency?
Designing data centers involves addressing challenges such as energy efficiency, water consumption, environmental impact, and data privacy. We need to ensure that the facilities are deployed responsibly and sustainably to the end users and communities. One key consideration throughout every data center project is the site selection phase, as the location of a data center can have a huge impact on the environment, costs and overall operation. We always consider factors like energy and water availability, climate, and potential for future expansion due to the growing demands of the market.
Here in Brazil, AECOM is conducting audits to assess the technical, social and environmental impacts associated with data centers. As designers, we always make sure we stay up to date with the latest technologies and construction materials to ensure we provide optimal solutions, not only for our clients but also for the local communities to ensure that our data center designs minimize their environmental footprint.
How do you go about assessing the unique needs and goals of clients when beginning a new design project, especially in the context of hyperscale data centers or logistics warehouses?
We take a multifaceted approach to understanding and meeting our data center and logistics clients’ unique needs. Many types of hyperscale data centers are from outside Brazil, but we always ensure the prototypes align with Brazilian codes, even if there’s rigidity with the prototypes. We actively suggest engineering solutions aligned with the local Brazilian context and consider local challenges. For example, in our design for one data center in Brazil, we incorporated a rainwater collection system to reduce water wastage.
We don’t have a one size fits all solution for our clients — we customize solutions for them as technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning change and evolve so rapidly. The unpredictable nature of these technologies drives us to stay current with the latest updates in the market and share insights with the clients’ technical teams, ensuring our designs align with the industry needs of today and tomorrow.