Special Topics in Global Digital Infrastructure

3 credits · Undergraduate

This course explores how the internet’s architectural foundations—its buildings, facilities, and their surrounding landscapes—are designed, engineered, and experienced. While “network architecture” and “cloud architecture” have traditionally been used to refer to virtual forms, this class will introduce students to their physical architecture: including the materials, environmental design, and aesthetics that shape digital infrastructures’ visibility and functionality. Central questions of the course include: How do digital architectures balance technical efficiency, environmental performance, and symbolic representation? How do infrastructures become sites of architectural experimentation/conflict in cities, suburbs, and remote landscapes?