In large
computer rooms, sometimes called
data centers (hey, it's a neat
term), raised floors are commonplace. They generally
serve two
purposes; they allow you to run your
cabling underneath the removeable
floor tiles, which is extremely convenient when installing new
equipment, and they also provide a
plenum through which
air conditioning can be piped. This allows
equipment sitting on the floor to be cooled from the
bottom up, which is much
easier than running
ducts down from the
ceiling.
I always thought raised floors were cool; rooms with them have this
legacy feel to them. It's
difficult to describe. Another primary
advantage to raised floors is that you can't walk on them without making
noise; this makes it
difficult for
bosses who like to sneak up on you, stand behind you for five minutes, then ask you how your day is going.
Raised floors are frequently accompanied by
impressive power distribution grids and a few
Lieberts.