Building a Data Center Glitz or Glory?

I've gone over this in my head and been involved in discussions about what happens when and "IF", we decide that we need a new data center. There are several approaches that seem very efficient, effective and will produce huge results. And, then there is the "Glitz", factor that I think has as much impact as the best engineered, green, sustainable data center design.

Let's look at a couple of scenarios:

As many know I'm deeply involved with the RFP that will ultimately produce a master plan that will suggest what we need to do with data centers at Penn State. Presuming we are told that we need at least one data center, what are we to do? Should we be engineering geeks and squeeze the nickel till the buffalo (you know the rest). By this I mean take the approach of say a less expensive piece of real estate (if that exists) that's not in the middle of campus. Say USB3 and build another steel building that has the best power, cooling, backup etc, etc...... What do we have? We have a great data center? Right?

Well, yes, BUT, who will want to bring there project here or who will want to put their NAME on it? I don't see any names coming up to replace USB 1 and 2?

The point of it all then becomes how "pretty", do we have to make it so it sells!??

I think we'll have to take a $40 million dollar building and make it a $50+ million dollar building so it will bring the research and the development monies to the University. I'm not saying by any means this is a bad thing but I'm betting that researchers would rather say that they are doing their research in the "John and Jane Doe" Research and Engineering Data Center at Penn State! The beautiful facility that it is overlooking the duck pond and arboretum. Rather than saying I'm doing my research at USB 3 behind OPP at PSU. You get the picture.

Of course we're a long way from any of this becoming reality but It's been on my mind so let me know what you think?

By the way, I do think option 2 is the right thing to do in the long run!