KEY POINTS
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Port Washington, Wisconsin, plans a 2.5 million-square-foot, $1 billion data center campus on 1,900 acres, with Vantage Data Centers potentially funding $175 million in infrastructure.
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Rezoned as a Technology Campus District, the project reflects the booming US data center construction, which has increased 48% to $12.9B year-to-date.
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Next steps include a city council funding vote and potential civil, structural, and energy infrastructure construction opportunities.
The City of Port Washington, Wisconsin, unveiled initial plans for a 2.5 million-square-foot data center campus following its design review board meeting on August 13, 2025.
According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and public documents, the $1-billion plus, nonresidential megaproject, which is in its early planning phase, calls for a campus spanning nearly 1,900 acres.
The project site for the planned 2.5 million square-foot data center campus is shown here in a rendering of its Port Washington, Wisconsin, location. Image: City of Port Washington
First-Phase Design Highlights
Campus Size: Roughly 2.5 million square feet within the first phase, including four data center buildings, a 50,000 sq ft warehouse, and a 6,500 sq ft visitor center
Building Details: Two data halls of about 560,000 sq ft each. Two other data halls of around 719,000 sq ft. Plans call for construction with precast concrete panels, supported by dry coolers, transformers, and utility infrastructure.
Architecture: Design by Dallas‑based firm Corgan.
Energy Demand: According to public documents, the project targets a power draw of at least 1 gigawatt, with an expected reach of 1.3 GW by late 2027.
Site Context, “Booming” US Data Center Growth
The Port Washington property, recently annexed from farmland and single-family homes, is now zoned as a Technology Campus District, allowing for the construction of data centers and related tech uses.
States and municipalities, like Port Washington, Atlanta, and others, have initiated or instituted guidelines around data center construction as plans for the structures continue to multiply.
In the ConstructConnect Data Center Report for August 2025, ConstructConnect Chief Economist Michael Guckes said, “The race to build the digital backbone of tomorrow is accelerating, and it’s evident in the dynamic world of data center construction.”
Guckes noted that “US data center construction is booming, with June 2025 starts hitting $2.4B and year-to-date totals up 48% to $12.9B, driven by AI and cloud demand.”
In March 2025, Port Washington authorities met with the public to balance the data center project requirements with community concerns over environmental impact and visual design. City authorities unanimously approved annexing 500 acres and changing zoning to accommodate the data center build in May 2025.
In return, the proposed development agreement for the southern section of the project site says that developer Vantage Data Centers would cover up to $175 million in upfront infrastructure expenses. A city council vote on that funding is expected on August 19, 2025.
This investment would fund key public works construction, such as a new energy infrastructure to power the data center and water, sewer, and road improvements.
Early Potential Construction Opportunities
If approved, building the initial phase of the plan is expected to create substantial work potential opportunities for local contractors, suppliers, and trades, possibly through 2027 as additional phases are built.
For the construction industry, some early areas of focus may include job opportunities in:
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Heavy civil infrastructure: Building utilities, roads, water, and wastewater systems.
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Superstructure delivery: Constructing precast buildings, warehouses, visitor and operations centers.
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Energy infrastructure: Work on substations, electrical feeders, and emergency power systems.
What’s Next for the Port Washington Data Center Project
Next steps expected in the Port Washington data center project are as follows, according to the board statement:
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August 19, 2025: City Council votes on $175M in infrastructure funding
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Fall 2025: Site clearing, grading, and early utility work
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2026: Vertical construction starts
Stay Connected
With the early planning phase underway, developments around the data center build continue to evolve.
As permitting, infrastructure work, and bid opportunities emerge, contractors and suppliers should track milestones closely to position themselves for early involvement.
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