Colocation service provider QTS Data Centers, with its headquarters in Kansas, has finalized plans to invest roughly $1.5 billion in the construction of four cutting-edge data centers in New Albany. This is a significant development for Ohio's technology infrastructure and a calculated move that would further solidify the city’s growing reputation as a tech hub.
As per the recent agreement made by the New Albany City Council, QTS plans to extend the commercial landscape of the city by acquiring two big land plots and building two colocation facilities on each of them. The city's economic development manager, Sara Zeigler, emphasized the importance of data centers for regional development and expressed trust in QTS's dedication to community engagement and track record of corporate responsibility in the regions in which they operate.
The community reinvestment area (CRA) agreements, which would open the door for future development, were announced by the New Albany City Council on LinkedIn. These hubs would not only provide vital infrastructure for IT companies in the present and the future, but they would also replicate the Class A office sites' cash production for the city.
The ambitious proposal by QTS outlines two campuses along Beech Road. Groundbreaking is scheduled for March 2024, with completion anticipated by March 2025. The outstanding 200MW power capacity will be supported by these twin complexes, which cover 57 acres and 37 acres, respectively, adding over one million square feet of data center space.
Data Center Capacity: 144 MW and 78 MW
This development would make strategic sense for New Albany since it fits in with the city's goal of drawing in a wide range of business entities and complements the city's diversified economic environment. Zeigler pointed out that QTS's choice to make New Albany its home is evidence of the company's and the city's shared basic principles.
Now that it is owned by Blackstone, QTS is one more data center developer in the Columbus area. Interestingly, the digital real estate on Beech Road will be split up into two large complexes with 144 MW and 78 MW of capacity each.
The recent surge in investments in digital infrastructure is putting New Albany on the map alongside tech behemoths like Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and Meta - all of which have a significant presence in the region. The recent actions taken by DBT and Lincoln/Harrison Street, as well as the planned establishment of an Intel chip manufacturing complex nearby, support this shared goal.
With a total investment of allegedly $11.2 million, QTS recently acquired the property, demonstrating its strong belief in the economic potential of New Albany and the surrounding area. With the growth of the digital industry and the increasing need for reliable, large-scale colocation data centers, QTS's investment might open up new business opportunities and establish standards for sustainable and innovative IT infrastructure in the Ohio area.
