IBM has filed plans to construct a major new quantum computing facility at its campus in Poughkeepsie, New York, marking a significant expansion of its advanced computing infrastructure and reinforcing its long-term investment in quantum technology.
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According to project filings, the proposed development would add a 511,000-square-foot building to the existing campus. The project includes demolishing two current structures totaling approximately 161,000 square feet to make way for the new facility, which will focus on manufacturing and assembling next-generation quantum systems.
The expansion aligns with IBM’s broader roadmap for quantum computing, including plans to introduce its “Starling” system by 2029. The company has said the system is expected to perform up to 20,000 times more operations than today’s quantum computers.
The new facility is expected to play a central role in the development of IBM’s future quantum technologies. The Starling system will reportedly be capable of running 100 million quantum operations using 200 logical qubits and will serve as a precursor to the company’s more advanced “Blue Jay” system.
Both systems are based on a hexagonal design architecture, with Starling comprising six connected quantum systems, while Blue Jay is expected to include 11 interconnected units and deliver up to 1 billion quantum operations across 2,000 logical qubits.
Once completed, the new building could expand the Poughkeepsie campus footprint to approximately 3.9 million square feet across 45 buildings. The project is also expected to create around 200 jobs upon becoming operational.
The facility will be designed with a maximum height of 40 feet and will include below-ground construction to accommodate specialized quantum cooling infrastructure without exceeding local height restrictions.
Local officials have described the project as a major economic investment for the region. Dutchess County Executive Ron Hicks highlighted the historical significance of IBM’s presence in the area.
“This represents one of the most significant investments in Dutchess County’s history, and the largest at IBM’s Poughkeepsie campus in more than four decades,” Hicks said. “When IBM launched the System/360 in Poughkeepsie in 1964, it helped transform computing and reshape business, science, government, and the technology industry around the world. More than 60 years ago, IBM placed Poughkeepsie on the global stage. Today, it is poised to do so once again.”
While the expansion is expected to increase power demand, IBM representatives indicated that existing infrastructure should meet the campus’s needs through 2030. However, the company must still obtain independent verification of grid capacity, complete environmental and traffic impact studies, and secure amendments to state environmental permits.
IBM is expected to present updated site plans and supporting studies in the coming months as part of the approval process.
The company has continued to expand its quantum footprint at the Poughkeepsie campus, including deploying additional systems in 2024, when it described the site as hosting the largest concentration of utility-scale quantum computers in the world.
Originally reported by Georgia Butler in Data Center Dynamics.
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