Matthew Cavanaugh for The Boston Globe

At the Massachusetts Green High Performance Computing Center, the focus is on energy efficiency.

Matthew Cavanaugh for The Boston Globe

A welder cut a water pipe inside the Holyoke center, which will use hydropower and other energy-efficient technologies.

Matthew Cavanaugh for The Boston Globe

The $95 million center is a joint venture of MIT, Harvard, UMass, Boston University, Northeastern University, EMC Corp., and Cisco Systems.

Matthew Cavanaugh for The Boston Globe

Power control panels inside the center.

Matthew Cavanaugh for The Boston Globe

The block-long industrial site was once home to an air bag maker and water filter manufacturer.

Matthew Cavanaugh for The Boston Globe

The Holyoke site was chosen party because of its hydroelectric facility, said executive director John Goodhue.

Matthew Cavanaugh for The Boston Globe

The center is expected to use at least 25 percent less energy than the typical data center.

Matthew Cavanaugh for The Boston Globe

The new 90,000-square-foot building features louvered windows, which can be opened like vents to let in cold air to cool the space.