NTT Global Data Centers is making waves in Prince William County with the construction of their new data center complex, The Grove at Gainesville. This massive project, located near U.S. 29 in Gainesville, is set to be one of the largest data center buildings in all of Northern Virginia.
The first building of the complex is already a quarter mile long, 180 feet wide, and 75 feet tall, making it the size of five football fields laid end-to-end. Once all four data centers are up and running, the complex will provide about 2 million square feet of floor space for servers and computers, drawing as much power as 150,000 homes.
While there are larger data centers in Loudoun County, The Grove at Gainesville is a testament to the trend of building bigger structures that demand more power. Supervisor Bob Weir, representing the Gainesville District, noted that most recent applications for data center projects in the area have been requesting increases in height and size, indicating a shift towards larger and more power-intensive data centers.
The rise of artificial intelligence is a major driving force behind the need for larger data centers. Experts predict that the emergence of AI will triple the demand for data storage in the next decade. Data center developers are seeking more land in suburban and rural areas and constructing bigger buildings to meet this growing demand.
The Grove at Gainesville is not the only data center project in the area. Nearby developments like Village Place Technology Park and Hillwood Camping Park are also adding to the growing data center landscape in Prince William County. If approved, these projects could create a new “data center alley” between Gainesville and Haymarket.
One notable aspect of The Grove at Gainesville is the significant amount of land dedicated to buildings, electrical substations, and emergency backup generators. There will be more than 50 generators for each of the four buildings, highlighting the immense power requirements of these data centers.
Supervisor Weir has been advocating for limits on the size and number of data centers in the county, which is on track to become a major data center hub. With over 50 operating data centers already in the area, Prince William County is poised to become a key player in the growing data center industry.
As data center construction continues to expand, projects like The Grove at Gainesville are setting a new standard for the size and power demands of these facilities. With the rise of artificial intelligence driving the need for more data storage and processing capabilities, data centers are evolving to meet the demands of the digital age.
The article discusses the construction of Prince William County’s largest data center along I-66. The data center is expected to have a significant impact on the county’s economy and will provide a substantial amount of power to the area. The project is also expected to create new job opportunities for local residents.