Data Centers: The Next Trend in Adaptive Reuse?

"Thanks to Walmart, specialty shops, an economic downturn and—the sweet irony—online shopping, department stores are heading toward extinction, and Sears is feeling the pain particularly hard," writes Meghan Neal. "It’s expected to close at least 100 stores this year, more than any retailer other than analog media victims Best Buy and Barnes and Noble."

Reports this week indicate the company is pursuing an innovative solution for reusing its inventory of shuttered buildings. "Sears Holdings, the 120-year old retailer (which now includes Kmart), plans to start converting its struggling and defunct department stores into data centers, Data Center Knowledge reported today. A new unit of the company, Ubiquity Critical Environments, will lead the charge."