Data Center View - June 2, 2025 - Applied Digital eyes $16 billion campus in South Dakota

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NEWS ROUNDUP

DEVELOPMENT: Applied Digital eyes $16 billion campus in South Dakota. Applied Digital is planning a multi-billion-dollar data center project in Deuel County, South Dakota, with an expected investment of up to $16 billion. The proposed AI data center campus would span two massive buildings, each measuring 907,000 square feet, and support up to 430MW of IT capacity. According to EVP Nick Phillips, the project is still in early phases, facing a 6–9 month zoning and approval process followed by 18–24 months of construction.

DEVELOPMENT: NTT Data accelerates global expansion. NTT DATA has secured land across North America, Europe, and Asia to support nearly 1 gigawatt of new data center capacity, as part of its $10 billion expansion strategy through 2027. Over the past six months, NTT DATA has strategically acquired land in seven global markets, including new regions like Milan (128MW on 53 acres) and Tochigi, Japan (100MW across two facilities), and expansions in existing hubs such as:

• Hillsboro, Oregon – 216MW expansion, bringing total market capacity to 354MW

• Phoenix (Mesa), Arizona – New 174-acre campus, aiming for 324MW, adding to an existing 240MW campus

• Frankfurt, Germany – Fifth site in the city, adding 80MW

• London, England – New site (LON2) and acquisition of freeholds at existing campuses

• Osaka, Japan – 36MW across two new facilities, bringing the regional total to 70MW

“By bringing new capacity to high-growth regions, we’re building the foundation enterprises need to innovate, scale, and lead confidently in an AI-driven economy,” said Doug Adams, CEO of NTT Global Data Centers.

EXPANSION: PowerBridge launches with $1 billion equity commitment. Private equity and infrastructure firm Five Point Infrastructure is investing $1 billion into the formation of a new hyperscale data center developer: PowerBridge. The new company will be led by former Cumulus Data CEO Alex Hernandez alongside several other ex-Cumulus executives. In partnership with LandBridge, a Five Point affiliate, PowerBridge will gain access to 275,000 acres of developable land across North America and crucial connections to natural gas infrastructure, enabling vertically integrated, power-connected data center development. PowerBridge aims to build gigawatt-scale campuses, targeting the surging demand from AI and cloud providers. These facilities will be tailored for hyperscale clients seeking end-to-end campus solutions—including land, power, and connectivity.

PEOPLE MOVES: Cushman & Wakefield brings in new global data center executive. Rich Okoney has joined Cushman & Wakefield as Global Data Center Practice Lead within its Integrated Facility Management (IFM) service line. Based in Connecticut, Okoney will report directly to David Bukovac, Global Head of IFM. With over 20 years of experience, Okoney has led major programs overseeing the maintenance, operations, engineering, and construction of large-scale global data center portfolios.

FUNDRAISING: Commonwealth Fusion Systems secures over $1 billion to build fusion power plan in Virginia. Commonwealth Fusion Systems (CFS) has raised more than $1 billion in a new funding round led by an undisclosed hyperscale data center developer. CFS is aiming to build ARC, a 400MW grid-scale fusion power plant in Chesterfield County, Virginia, targeted for the early 2030s. A smaller test reactor, SPARC, is planned to be operational by 2027.

READ: 2025 data center power report.

DATA CENTER PROPERTY FOR SALE 

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32,400 SF | 3 Acres | Built in 2024 | 6MW of Confirmed Utility Feed Capacity From SRP | Supports 250kW, 125kW of Which is Already Committed to an Investment-Grade Tenant

564 Acres Over Three Parcels | Four 100 kV Duke Energy Transmission Circuits Onsite | Long Haul Fiber Runs Less Than a Half Mile From the Site

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