Microsoft has purchased 616 acres of farmland in Dallas County, Iowa, for USD 95.5 million. The property, located near Woodward, will be developed into a data center campus.

The land lies between Highway 141 and Seminole Avenue. Woodward is located roughly 30 miles (48km) northwest of Des Moines in Dallas County. News that Microsoft was planning to buy the property emerged last month.

Resale at More than Triple the Price

The property was acquired from TC Austin Acquisitions LLC, the acquisition vehicle of Trammel Crow, which is a subsidiary of CBRE Group. TC Austin Acquisitions had purchased the land for just more than USD 30.7 million, the same day it sold the land to Microsoft. That makes Microsoft's price more than double what the previous buyer paid the same day.

Construction Still Years Away

While the land has been purchased, plans for construction remain distant. Microsoft told residents at a community meeting that a campus design has not been decided, nor has the company worked out how many data center buildings the site will hold.

The company has estimated that it will need two to three years to design the campus and a further two years to construct the first building.

Microsoft's Growing Des Moines-Area Footprint

The Woodward purchase adds to a substantial Microsoft presence in the Des Moines area. In 2024, the company purchased 111 acres for Project Ruthenium. Other Microsoft data center sites in the area in various stages of development and operation include Project Ginger West, Project Ginger East, Project Mountain, and Project Alluvion.

Microsoft is not the only developer active in the region. The tract is also developing in the Des Moines area, having acquired 282 acres earlier this year.

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