The standard access to the centre is across this bridge, which increases the LRZ's sense of isolation. There is, of course, other access built at ground-floor level, for emergency use and, when necessary, for equipment, but this is the only access for regular use. And, naturally enough, when walking around the centre you don't see anybody using it apart from visitors.
It is elevated high above the ground, because that's where the computers are. Everything below is equipment, and there is rather a lot of that. It is worth noting that the computer room for the supercomputer only takes up one third of the width of the building. There are other IT systems and equipment here as well, which are governed by the same rules on "lights out" computing and general low maintenance as the supercomputer itself.
