Prime Data Centers, an international developer and operator of hyperscale and purpose-built data centers, broke ground on May 21, 2026, on the first three data centers of its new five-building 240MW IT Phoenix campus in Avondale, Ariz.
Each building is a 267,000-sq.-ft. facility, delivering 48MW of critical IT load capacity. This serves as the opening phase of the campus, which will ultimately span 66.5 acres, 1.3 million sq. ft. and 240MW of total critical power across five hyperscale data centers.
Prime Data Centers said Avondale sits at the heart of one of the fastest-growing data center markets in the nation, where demand for AI-ready infrastructure, cloud computing and high-performance workloads continues to accelerate. PHX01-01 is designed to support single or multi-tenant hyperscale deployments requiring scalable, high-density infrastructure.
"Breaking ground on PHX01's first three buildings is a defining moment for Prime's partnership with Avondale and for the Greater Phoenix region," said Michael Wall, executive vice president of product delivery at Prime Data Centers. "This first phase represents the beginning of a long-term investment in Avondale, and the infrastructure we are putting in place today is built to scale alongside the demands of our customers for years to come. We are equally committed to ensuring that growth is responsible, and sustainability is woven into every decision we make at this campus."
The full campus will feature 20 data halls with infrastructure galleries for data hall privacy, concurrently maintainable mechanical and electrical systems, multiple carriers and comprehensive layered security. The campus is committed to 100 percent renewable energy and is targeting SOC2 Type II and ISO 27001 compliance, according to the company
"This groundbreaking marks the start of a transformative project for the region and an exciting step forward for Prime Data Center's Phoenix campus," said Brent Jordan, vice president at ARCOMurray, which is the general contractor and design-build firm for the campus. From the construction side, success on a development of this scale comes down to detailed planning, strong collaboration, and a commitment to safe, efficient execution. We are proud to be part of bringing Prime's vision to life."
Prime Data Centers said the PHX01 data centers are designed to meet the rigorous demands of next-generation AI and high-performance computing workloads. The facility will feature a closed-loop cooling system engineered for zero process water use during operations, eliminating the need for ongoing water consumption as part of the cooling process while enabling precise thermal management for high-density compute environments.
Further reinforcing its water stewardship commitment, Prime Data Centers said it procures Water Restoration Certificates (WRCs) equal to 120 percent of its annual operating water consumption across its portfolio and commits to maintaining that coverage every year. ♣
