A multi-mode cooling apparatus configured to be mounted in a container-based data center housing multiple server racks, - the data center comprising a container structure configured to standard shipping container dimensional specifications and having walls (120, 122, 124, 126), a ceiling and a floor defining a bounded interior space, the interior space having multiple server racks, - wherein the multi-mode cooling apparatus is selectively adaptable to operate in multiple cooling operation modes to cool the interior space, the multi-mode cooling apparatus comprising: - an air handling housing configured to be mounted to the ceiling of the container structure, characterised in that: - the housing is further configured to extend downwardly from the ceiling for positioning closely spaced above the server racks, - an air inlet opening formed at a first end of the housing and in communication with an interior of the container-based data center, - a heat exchanger located in the air handling housing downstream of the air inlet opening, - a movable air directing member located downstream of the heat exchanger, - wherein the movable air directing member is positioned in a first position to allow air from the interior space to be drawn into the air handling housing for a first operation mode, and - wherein the movable air directing member is positioned in a second position restricting air from the interior space from being drawn into the air handling housing in a second operation mode, - an air moving device located in the air handling housing downstream of the movable air directing member, and - an air outlet opening formed at a second end of the housing downstream of the air moving device and in communication with an interior of the container-based data center. - the data center comprising a container structure configured to standard shipping container dimensional specifications and having walls (120, 122, 124, 126), a ceiling and a floor defining a bounded interior space, the interior space having multiple server racks, - wherein the multi-mode cooling apparatus is selectively adaptable to operate in multiple cooling operation modes to cool the interior space, the multi-mode cooling apparatus comprising: - an air handling housing configured to be mounted to the ceiling of the container structure, characterised in that: - the housing is further configured to extend downwardly from the ceiling for positioning closely spaced above the server racks, - an air inlet opening formed at a first end of the housing and in communication with an interior of the container-based data center, - a heat exchanger located in the air handling housing downstream of the air inlet opening, - a movable air directing member located downstream of the heat exchanger, - wherein the movable air directing member is positioned in a first position to allow air from the interior space to be drawn into the air handling housing for a first operation mode, and - wherein the movable air directing member is positioned in a second position restricting air from the interior space from being drawn into the air handling housing in a second operation mode, - the housing is further configured to extend downwardly from the ceiling for positioning closely spaced above the server racks, - an air inlet opening formed at a first end of the housing and in communication with an interior of the container-based data center, - a heat exchanger located in the air handling housing downstream of the air inlet opening, - a movable air directing member located downstream of the heat exchanger, - wherein the movable air directing member is positioned in a first position to allow air from the interior space to be drawn into the air handling housing for a first operation mode, and - wherein the movable air directing member is positioned in a second position restricting air from the interior space from being drawn into the air handling housing in a second operation mode, - an air moving device located in the air handling housing downstream of the movable air directing member, and - an air outlet opening formed at a second end of the housing downstream of the air moving device and in communication with an interior of the container-based data center.