Port Washington, WI — A $1 billion-plus data center campus is moving closer to reality in Port Washington as Vantage Data Centers has released design details for a sprawling first phase that will reshape the city’s west side.

The plan calls for a 2.5 million-square-foot campus spanning 1,900 acres—a site that city officials annexed earlier this year from the village of Port Washington to clear the way for development. Denver-based Vantage has been steadily acquiring land west of Interstate 43 since January in collaboration with developer Cloverleaf Infrastructure.

According to city documents, the first phase includes four massive data center buildings totaling 2.5 million square feet, a 50,000-square-foot warehouse, and a 6,500-square-foot visitor center. Two of the data centers will be roughly 560,000 square feet each, while the other two will be about 719,000 square feet apiece. Supporting each facility will be dedicated parking lots for up to 200 vehicles, generators, transformers, utility buildings, and dry coolers.

The proposed buildings—designed by Dallas-based Corgan—will feature a consistent modern aesthetic, with precast concrete panels and a height of 35 feet for most structures. Dry cooler platforms will rise to about 55 feet.

City officials say the campus is zoned within an I-3 Technology Campus District, which permits uses such as data centers, utility facilities, and light industrial warehousing connected to tech. It’s still unclear who the end users of the facility will be, but industry reports suggest Vantage aims to secure up to 1.3 gigawatts of power by the end of 2027, according to WEC Energy Group.

As part of its agreement with the city, Vantage will pay $650,000 annually in new tax revenue starting in 2027. The city estimates the land will be valued at $120 million once built out. The deal also requires Vantage to cover $175 million in infrastructure improvements upfront, including:

• Expanded capacity for water and wastewater treatment facilities
• Upgraded water mains and sewer lines
• Power infrastructure enhancements
• A new water tower

The city will reimburse these costs over 20 years through a tax increment financing (TIF) district. Port Washington officials will vote on the developer agreement on Aug. 19.

The project has not been without scrutiny. In May, residents voiced concerns over potential environmental impacts, power generation demands, and quality-of-life issues for nearby neighborhoods. Despite this, the Port Washington Common Council voted unanimously to annex the land and move the project forward.

Over the summer, Vantage finalized land purchases for the development, which included former farmland and single-family properties. City leaders have emphasized that having control of the site early enabled proactive infrastructure planning and zoning adjustments.

Vantage Data Centers operates 36 campuses across five continents, with 14 in North America. The Port Washington facility, once completed, is expected to be one of its largest U.S. developments and a major economic driver for the region.

Originally reported by Ethan Duran in The Daily Reporter.