This thesis explores the role of the modern architectural representation and its changing relationship to the act of making. The investigation will seek and test outlets for architectural representations to operate under functional and technical demands while activating a generative environment for the positive transposition from representing to building. These outlets will be demonstrated through the design and documentation of a growing building typology of the 21st century: the data center. The design is sited in Downtown Winnipeg Manitoba and is contrived to test the opportunities of an urban, city owned, public data center.