#wisconsindatacenter

The city of Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin, has announced the launch of the second phase of a large-scale data center project. It is set to become one of the most extensive facilities worldwide dedicated to hosting and training artificial intelligence systems.

An outside perspective of the Fairwater data center, highlighting its large-scale architectural structure

Project Details

The center is located in the Fairwater area of Mount Pleasant and is being developed on a vast site. It is designed to accommodate hundreds of thousands of advanced computing units. These units are connected through a fiber-optic network long enough to circle the planet four times. This infrastructure is intended to create a facility capable of performance far beyond that of today’s supercomputers.

Interior view of the data center, showcasing the organized arrangement of high-performance servers

Cooling and Operations Technology

The design incorporates an advanced cooling system focused on efficiency and sustainability. Around 90% of the cooling is achieved through a closed-loop water recycling system. This significantly reduces resource consumption while ensuring continuous high-performance operations. The remaining cooling relies on outside air, with water only used on days of extreme heat.

The exterior facade of the building, reflecting the functional and architectural character of the facility

Structure and Employment

Thousands of workers have been involved in the construction phase. The project is expected to provide hundreds of permanent jobs once both phases are completed. The architectural layout goes beyond sheer scale, with precisely organized internal spaces. These are designed to handle massive technical loads and guarantee uninterrupted operation.

The data center site with its extensive grounds and connected infrastructure

✦ ArchUp Editorial Insight

The article frames the Wisconsin data center as an architectural undertaking that extends beyond digital infrastructure. Images emphasize vast structural compositions, refined spatial organization, and the integration of sustainable cooling systems. Yet, the narrative leans heavily on technical detail while leaving cultural identity and urban impact underexplored. This raises the question of whether such facilities can redefine architecture’s relationship with digital infrastructure over time. Despite this gap, the project stands out as a pivotal example of design strategies that negotiate operational efficiency with long-term sustainability.

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