Construction has commenced on Phase 1 of a planned USD 10 billion data center campus by QTS Data Centers in Van Wert, Ohio, marking a major step forward for one of the region's largest proposed digital infrastructure investments.

Construction Begins on Phase 1

Ground was recently broken at the Van Wert Mega Site, with excavation work now underway. The initial phase will comprise four buildings, each measuring approximately 650,000 square feet, with actual building construction expected to begin in spring 2027.

The project was announced in May 2026 by QTS and the City of Van Wert. It is planned to comprise up to seven data center buildings across approximately 902 acres, with the total investment expected to reach USD 10 billion as the campus is built out. QTS estimates a five-to-six-year construction phase, though exact commissioning dates for individual buildings have not yet been confirmed.

Economic Benefits for Van Wert

The project is expected to create more than 1,500 construction jobs, working alongside local building trades unions. It will also provide about 200 permanent QTS positions. Additional employment could arise from tenants and companies providing security, maintenance, and other operational services.

According to QTS, the development could generate USD 200 million in tax revenue over 20 years. The company has also committed to establishing a community betterment fund for Van Wert, which will support local initiatives such as education, workforce development, public safety, and community amenities.

The campus represents a significant opportunity for Van Wert, a regional community that has sought an end user for its large industrial site for nearly two decades.

The construction of the large-scale data center could also stimulate demand for electrical contractors, mechanical services, building materials, and equipment installation, among others.

Power Infrastructure and Cooling Systems

QTS is working with American Electric Power (AEP) to secure reliable electricity for the development while addressing concerns about the effect of rising data center demand on the local power network.

The developer says it will pay for the project's energy infrastructure and that the development will not impose additional costs on existing AEP Ohio customers. However, QTS has not yet publicly disclosed the campus's specific power capacity, citing security and confidentiality considerations.

Water management is another important component of the development. The campus is planned to use a closed-loop cooling system, an approach that does not require continuous water consumption for cooling once operational. The initial system fill will still require water, with QTS indicating that arrangements for supplying it are being assessed.

The company says the cooling approach is intended to reduce pressure on local water resources compared with conventional cooling systems that consume relatively more water during operation. Water use has become a key issue in debates over large data centers globally; for instance, in Australia, Quantum DC's proposed Tungkillo data center and energy facility is facing backlash for a number of reasons, among them water.

QTS has also outlined plans for setbacks, landscaped buffers and screening to reduce the visual impact on neighboring properties. Environmental assessments identified a limited impact on a stream on the property, which QTS says will be addressed in accordance with applicable regulations.

Construction Outlook

With excavation underway, the project is moving from planning toward construction of its first four buildings under a multi-year construction program. The next major milestones include the start of vertical building construction and the installation of power and cooling infrastructure, to be followed by subsequent fit-out of the facilities for data center operations.

The project adds to the expansion of hyperscale digital infrastructure in the United States, an expansion driven mainly by demand for cloud computing, data storage, and AI. For Van Wert, the long-term impact might just heavily depend on the delivery of promised jobs, tax revenue, and community benefits.

Stay Ahead of North America's Data Center Boom, From Hyperscale Builds in Virginia to Edge Deployments Across the United States

How do you spot the next billion-dollar data center investment before it makes headlines? The answer lies in tracking the early signals: land acquisitions, power procurement deals, and permit filings long before ground breaks.

The Global Project Tracking (GPT) platform by Blackridge Research gives developers, contractors, equipment suppliers, and investors a real-time view of the data center pipeline across the United States and the wider North American market. Every project stage, every stakeholder, every opportunity, mapped and monitored in one place.

Whether you're targeting cloud providers expanding capacity, colocation operators scaling campuses, or utility-driven edge builds in emerging metros, timely intelligence is the difference between winning and watching from the sidelines.

• Upcoming Projects

• Tender Notices

• Contract Awards

• Projects Under Construction

• Completed Projects

Book a free demo today and see how the Global Project Tracking (GPT) platform by Blackridge Research can power your data center market strategy across the United States.