Facilities Management Advisor’s “Under Construction” series highlights some of the latest, most interesting facility project announcements every month.
$1B Meta Data Center Campus
The data center market is booming, thanks to the meteoric rise of artificial intelligence (AI). Case in point, social media giant Meta recently announced it is investing more than $1 billion in an AI-optimized data center campus in Beaver Dam, Wis. Spanning over 700,000 square feet, this project represents the Facebook and Instagram parent company’s 26th data center in the U.S. and 30th in the world.
Organization: Meta
Location: Beaver Dam, Wis.
Type of project: New build
Size: +700,000 square feet
Estimated cost: $1 billion
Build team: Mortenson
Status: Ground broken Nov. 12
Expected completion: 2027
Interesting tidbit: Meta officials said the project will be designed and built with efficiency, flexibility, and sustainability in mind. The site’s electricity use will be matched with 100% clean energy, and the facility will aim for LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. Meta also has a global goal to be water-positive by 2030, meaning the company will restore more water than it consumes to local watersheds. Furthermore, the data center will use dry cooling tech to eliminate water demands for cooling once it’s operational.
Quote: Brad Davis, director of data center community and economic development at Meta, said Beaver Dam is “the perfect home for Meta for several reasons, including great local talent, strong community partnerships, and reliable infrastructure.”
More details are available here.
Titans Stadium Update
Project partners have marked a major milestone in the construction of the new Nissan Stadium, the future home of the NFL’s Tennessee Titans, with a topping out ceremony that placed the final beam in the structural steel frame. There’s a lot that makes this $2.1 billion facility special, but notably, it was a top project in the very first installment of the “Under Construction” series way back in December 2022. Wow, time flies when you’re having facility fun! Back then, the project was just a proposal. Now, it’s a reality on track for completion in 2027.
Organization: Tennessee Titans
Location: Nashville, Tenn.
Type of project: New build
Size: 1.8 million square feet
Estimated cost: $2.1 billion
Design-build team: Tennessee Builders Alliance
Status: Ground broken March 2024
Expected completion: Spring 2027
Interesting tidbit: Designed to serve as a year-round destination, the new Nissan Stadium will feature a translucent roof, 360-degree outdoor porches with skyline views, and a 12,000-square-foot community space for public use. When complete, the stadium will host Tennessee Titans and Tennessee State University football games, concerts, and civic events and will be capable of accommodating Super Bowls, Final Fours, and College Football Playoff games. The construction project recently surpassed 3.6 million hours worked with about 1,800 workers on-site each day.
Quote: Titans President and CEO Burke Nihill said, “From day one, we imagined the experience for our fans—a space that captures the soul of Nashville and Tennessee and is built for our community. Today, we celebrate the dedication and hard work of thousands shaping our future.”
More details are available here.
Resilient Firehouse for FDNY
In recognition of National First Responders Day, New York City officials recently broke ground on a new home for the brave men and women in the FDNY, the largest fire department in the country. Being built for Engine Company 268/Ladder Company 137 in Queens, the $40 million firehouse will replace an existing facility around the corner, which dates back to 1913 and sustained damage during Superstorm Sandy.
Organization: FDNY
Location: Queens, N.Y.
Type of project: New build
Size: 16,760 square feet
Estimated cost: $40 million
Design-build team: BKSK Architects and NYC Department of Design and Construction
Status: Ground broken Oct. 28
Expected completion: Summer 2027
Interesting tidbit: The new 16,760-square-foot structure is designed for resiliency and includes flood protection measures, such as a raised backup generator in case of power outages. The facility is expected to meet LEED Gold standards with a host of sustainability features ranging from solar thermal to a green roof. To support a diverse team, the upper floors will also have separate male and female locker rooms and restrooms, as well as a nursing room.
Quote: Fire Commissioner Robert S. Tucker said, “Built to be resilient to the threat of future storms as well as practical for our members, this state-of-the-art facility will provide safety and community to the Rockaway peninsula. I cannot wait to see it come to life.”
More details are available here.
Automated Rocket Factories
Major defense contractor L3Harris Technologies, Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, and other officials broke ground on the Arkansas Advanced Propulsion Facilities (AAPF), an extensive solid rocket motor (SRM) production campus. The campus will include more than 20 buildings across 110 acres at the company’s Camden site and is expected to boost large SRM manufacturing capacity six-fold. The new facilities will specialize in producing motors critical for tactical and air defense missiles, missile defense targets, interceptors and hypersonic vehicles, and emerging missile defense needs.
Organization: L3Harris Technologies
Location: Camden, Ark.
Type of project: New build
Size: 230,000 square feet
Estimated cost: +$400 million
Status: Ground broken Nov. 18
Expected completion: N/A
Interesting tidbit: According to L3Harris, the AAPF will incorporate the latest advances in digital processes and automation to increase efficiency and enhance safety, including the use of precision manufacturing with robotic systems and automated quality inspections. The campus will also leverage real-time monitoring and predictive maintenance analytics, alongside the integration of autonomous ground vehicles for motor transportation.
Quote: L3Harris CEO Christopher Kubasik said, “Together with the state of Arkansas, we are adding capability that will protect our nation and allies, deter would-be aggressors, and strengthen the U.S. defense industrial base.”
More details are available here.
Honorable Mentions
- $1.8B Hospital Modernization
- Bigger Wingspan for Boeing
- Earthquake-Safe School
- City-Owned Solar to Cut Utility Costs
- Atlanta’s Tallest Tower in Decades
Do you have a major project announcement you’d like considered for the “Under Construction” series? Please contact Editor Joe Bebon at JBebon@BLR.com.