Land and Expand: CloudHQ, Scala, Involta, AWS, Google, Microsoft

Welcome to Land and Expand, a new feature at Data Center Frontier highlighting the latest data center development news, including new sites, land acquisition and campus expansions. Here are the new developments we’re reading about:

• CloudHQ to Invest $1 Billion in Minneapolis Data Center: Just days after breaking ground on a $2.5 billion campus in Suburban Chicago, developer CloudHQ has advanced plans for a $1 billion data center project in Chaska, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis that is home to many mission-critical facilities. Local media report that CloudHQ’s proposal to build 1.4 million square feet of data center space received unanimous approval from the Chaska City Council. The company has acquired 72 acres adjacent to the West Creek Business Park. Chaska is home to data centers for Stream Data Centers and Flexential.
• Scala Starts Operations at Sao Paulo Site: Scala Data Centers, the Latin American hyperscale operator launched by DigitalBridge, has commenced operations at its SP4 data center in Sao Paulo. The $140 million project launches with a 6 megawatt first phase and a hyperscale tenant in place. Scala now has five operational datacenters – SP1, SP2, SP3, SP4, and CP1, in Campinas – that comprise 50MW of capacity.
• AWS Files Plans for 900,000 SF Data Center in Prince William:  Amazon Web Services has seeking to rezone 60 acres of land in Bristow, Virginia with plans to build a 900,000 square foot data center project, according to local media reports. Amazon is under contract to purchase the land, which is near the intersection of Nokesville Road and Piper Lane. The application calls for two 110-foot buildings and an electrical substation covering 3.9 acres. The buildings would be 450,000 square feet each.
• Involta Expands in Ohio: Regional data center provider Involta has expanded its data center in Independence, Ohio in the Cleveland market, adding 14,000 square feet of space and an additional 1MW of much-needed power to the facility to meet the increasing demand for enterprise colocation in Ohio’s Northeast corridor. Backed by capital from the Carlyle Group, the expanded facility now spans 40,000 square feet and brings Involta’s total capacity across Ohio to 10MW.
• Microsoft Plans Another Data Center in San Antonio: Microsoft is eyeing property at 3555 Westover Link, San Antonio, TX 78251, near SeaWorld for this new 245,000-square-foot data center, according to a recent filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. Microsoft operates a major cloud campus in the Westover Hills region.
• Google Launches Third Data Center in Singapore: Google has opened a new data center in Singapore. “The commitments we are making today, including the completion of our third data center facility, reflect our confidence in Singapore’s technology leadership for the region and the world,” said Scott Beaumont, president of Google Asia-Pacific. The new facility comes online just as a moratorium on new developments in Singapore is coming to an end.
• Skybox, Prologis acquire More Land in Austin Market:Skybox and Prologis are expanding their partnering and developing another data center campus outside Austin, Texas. The two companies have purchased more than 220 acres from the City of Hutto in northeast Austin, where they plan to build a data center campus, according to DataCenterDynamics. Details of the planned development – including specifications, energy requirements, or timelines – were not shared. Skybox and Prologis are currently building a data center in Pflugerville, just north of Austin.

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