Industrial Landscape Architecture in the Age of AI

Why Australia's next generation of industrial developments demand more from landscape architecture

Industrial development is changing.

Warehouses, logistics facilities and manufacturing plants continue to form the backbone of Australia's employment lands, but we're also seeing the rapid emergence of new forms of industrial infrastructure. Data centres, advanced manufacturing facilities and AI-enabled digital infrastructure are becoming an increasingly important part of our built environment, bringing new opportunities and new design challenges.

Although these developments differ in function, they all share a common requirement: they must perform.

Having contributed to industrial projects ranging from traditional developments through to a contemporary data centre, one thing has become increasingly clear to me—landscape architecture has a far greater role to play than simply satisfying planning requirements or softening the edges of a building.

Today's industrial landscapes need to work harder.

They must support operational efficiency, improve environmental performance, respond to a changing climate, contribute positively to the public realm and continue performing well for decades after construction.

Whether designing a warehouse in Western Sydney or infrastructure supporting Australia's digital economy, the principles of good industrial landscape architecture remain remarkably consistent.

Landscape Architecture Is More Than Planting

Landscape architecture is sometimes viewed as the final layer of an industrial development—the trees, planting beds and turf added once the building has been designed.

In reality, it is part of the site's infrastructure.

Good landscape architecture influences how an industrial development performs over its entire life. It can improve stormwater management, reduce urban heat, strengthen biodiversity, support Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED), improve pedestrian movement and create a more positive relationship between industry and the surrounding community.

Rather than asking:

"How much landscaping does this development require?"

I believe a far more valuable question is:

"How can landscape architecture improve the long-term performance of this site?"

That shift in thinking becomes increasingly important as industrial developments grow in scale and complexity.

Industrial Landscapes Need to Work Harder

Working on complex industrial projects has reinforced something I've observed throughout my career—the best industrial landscapes quietly solve dozens of problems simultaneously.

A successful landscape should not simply look good on opening day.

It should actively contribute to:

• operational efficiency

• environmental performance

• climate resilience

• biodiversity

• public realm quality

• safety and passive surveillance

• long-term maintenance

• adaptability over time

Large roof areas, expansive hardstand, increased servicing requirements and growing expectations around environmental performance all demand more thoughtful landscape design than ever before.

These principles are not unique to emerging technologies. They are equally applicable to warehouses, logistics facilities, industrial estates and manufacturing plants.

Designing for Australia's AI Infrastructure

Recent investment in artificial intelligence, cloud computing and digital infrastructure has placed data centres firmly within Australia's industrial future.

While these facilities are often discussed in terms of computing power, energy demand and engineering, they also demonstrate why landscape architecture deserves a seat at the table much earlier in the design process.

Data centres typically involve:

• substantial building footprints

• highly secure operational environments

• extensive service infrastructure

• prominent industrial streetscapes

• long operational life spans

From a landscape architecture perspective, these are not constraints—they are opportunities.

Tree canopy helps reduce the perceived scale of large buildings.

Thoughtful streetscape planting creates a more welcoming public interface.

Water Sensitive Urban Design improves stormwater outcomes.

Carefully selected planting contributes to long-term resilience while reducing maintenance requirements.

The same principles that improve the performance of a warehouse or logistics facility are equally relevant to Australia's next generation of digital infrastructure.

Water Stewardship Beyond Irrigation

Water efficiency has become one of the defining challenges of contemporary landscape architecture.

For industrial developments, responsible water management extends well beyond irrigation.

Effective landscape design can:

• slow and filter stormwater runoff

• increase infiltration

• support Water Sensitive Urban Design (WSUD)

• reduce potable water demand

• improve soil health

• increase long-term vegetation resilience

These strategies create landscapes that are better equipped to respond to changing climatic conditions while contributing positively to the wider catchment.

As industrial developments continue to evolve, water stewardship will become an increasingly important measure of long-term landscape performance.

Climate Resilience Starts at Ground Level

Industrial estates are often characterised by extensive roofs, pavements and hardstand areas that contribute significantly to urban heat.

Landscape architecture provides practical tools to help mitigate these impacts.

Tree canopy, permeable landscapes, generous soil volumes, rain gardens and resilient planting all contribute to cooler, healthier industrial environments.

These measures improve outdoor comfort for workers, reduce stress on vegetation and create industrial precincts that are better prepared for Australia's changing climate.

Climate resilience should not be viewed as an optional environmental initiative.

It is fundamental to designing industrial places capable of performing well into the future.

The Public Face of Industry

Even highly secure industrial facilities contribute to the character of the streets they occupy.

Landscape architecture plays an important role in ensuring industrial developments engage positively with the public realm.

Thoughtfully designed setbacks, street tree planting, pedestrian connectivity and scale mediation help create industrial developments that support both operational requirements and the broader community.

Good industrial landscapes demonstrate that functionality and good urban design can—and should—coexist.

Case Study – Goodman SYD01 Data Centre, Artarmon

Many of the ideas discussed throughout this article were reinforced through my involvement in the approved Goodman SYD01 Data Centre at Artarmon, New South Wales.

My contribution to the landscape architecture occurred while working as part of the broader multidisciplinary team at COLA Studio, and later through Place Supply, during the State Significant Development Application (SSDA) process.

Having contributed to the landscape architecture during the project's SSDA phase, it reinforced something I've come to appreciate about contemporary industrial development: the landscape is expected to perform just as hard as the building itself - balancing operational performance with environmental responsibility.

Projects of this scale and complexity require careful consideration of how highly secure industrial facilities engage with the surrounding streetscape, respond to significant building mass and continue performing well over many decades.

One aspect of industrial landscape architecture that I believe deserves more attention is designing for maintenance and ecological succession.

Industrial facilities are long-term assets.

Trees mature.

Planting communities evolve.

Maintenance contractors change.

Operational requirements adapt.

A successful landscape should anticipate these changes rather than simply respond to them.

Like many long-life industrial developments, projects of this nature benefit from careful consideration of maintenance and ecological succession. These principles informed the landscape approach, recognising that industrial landscapes should continue to perform well beyond practical completion.

This includes selecting robust planting suited to the operational environment, considering safe maintenance access and creating landscape systems capable of remaining resilient as vegetation matures over time.

In many respects, this reflects the same philosophy that underpins the facility itself.

Just as the engineering systems within a contemporary data centre are designed for reliability, redundancy and long-term performance, the surrounding landscape should also be designed to remain resilient, adaptable and functional throughout its life.

For me, this is one of the most exciting aspects of industrial landscape architecture.

Success isn't measured by how a landscape looks on completion day.

It's measured by how well it continues to perform twenty or thirty years later.

Looking Ahead

Australia's industrial landscape will continue to evolve.

Warehousing, advanced manufacturing, logistics automation and AI infrastructure will all influence the way employment precincts are planned and delivered.

Landscape architecture has an increasingly important role to play in ensuring these places remain environmentally responsible, operationally efficient and positively connected to the communities that surround them.

In future Knowledge Base articles, I'll explore these ideas in greater depth, including Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED), Water Sensitive Urban Design, waste management, industrial worker wellbeing and designing landscapes that continue to perform long after construction is complete.

Industrial development has always been about performance.

I believe the landscape should be held to exactly the same standard.

Author's Note

The Goodman SYD01 case study discussed in this article is based on publicly available project information and my experience contributing to the landscape architecture while working at COLA Studio, and later through Place Supply, during the State Significant Development Application (SSDA) process. The views expressed are my own and are intended to discuss general landscape architecture principles rather than project-specific design decisions.

Project References:

• Goodman SYD01 – Official Project Information

• ArchitectureAU – Data Centre Approved for Development in Growing North Sydney Technology Hub

• Urban Digest – Goodman Gains Approval for $845M Artarmon Data Centre