How AI is Powering the Data Center Construction Boom in 2025
In 2025, the rapid rise of artificial intelligence (AI) is doing more than transforming industries — it’s fundamentally reshaping the construction landscape. As demand for faster computing and greater data storage explodes, companies are investing heavily in data center construction projects across the country and around the world.
AI models like ChatGPT, autonomous vehicle systems, and predictive analytics platforms require enormous processing power. Hyperscalers, cloud providers, and enterprises alike are racing to build the infrastructure needed to support an AI-driven future. As a result, data center construction is becoming one of the fastest-growing sectors in the commercial building market.
Why Data Center Construction is Surging
Several key drivers are fueling this boom in data center construction:
- AI Workloads: Machine learning and AI applications require higher compute density and low-latency environments, pushing demand for more advanced data centers in construction.
- Edge Computing: To reduce lag times, data center construction is increasingly taking place closer to end users.
- Cloud Expansion: Providers like AWS, Microsoft Azure, and Google Cloud are scaling up rapidly, with multiple data centers in construction across the U.S.
- Energy Efficiency Initiatives: Modern data center construction projects prioritize green building designs and sustainable energy sources.
For developers, lenders, and construction firms, the surge in data center construction presents major opportunities — but it also introduces heightened risks that require specialized inspections and proactive risk management.
Major Data Center Projects Underway
Here are some of the largest data center construction projects currently planned or in progress:
| Company | Location | Project Details |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft | Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin | $1 billion data center campus |
| Meta (Facebook) | Kuna, Idaho | $800 million data center facility |
| Amazon Web Services (AWS) | Hilliard, Ohio | $7.8 billion AWS data center investment |
| Mesa, Arizona | $600 million hyperscale data center | |
| QTS Realty Trust | Prince William County, Virginia | 600-acre data center campus expansion |
| Apple | Waukee, Iowa | Continued $1.3 billion data center growth |
| Switch | Texas and Georgia | New mega data campuses for AI workloads |
These projects represent only a fraction of the global boom. According to CBRE, over 1.9 gigawatts of new data center capacity is currently under development in the United States alone.
What This Means for Construction Risk Management
The surge in data centers in construction brings increased complexity to project oversight:
- Comprehensive budget reviews for large-scale builds
- Higher pressure for on-time delivery of highly technical facilities
- Increased risk of construction defects or schedule delays
At NWM Risk Management, we support lenders, developers, and investors throughout the data center construction process. Our nationwide construction monitoring services ensure that your projects stay compliant, properly funded, and aligned with technical specifications — from initial groundbreaking to final commissioning.
Planning or financing a data center in construction?
Contact NWM Risk Management today to learn how our inspection services can help ensure the success of your data center construction project.
