Vantage Invests US$25bn in Mega-Campus for AI Data Centres

Vantage Data Centers is undertaking a significant US$25bn project to build a vast hyperscale data centre "mega-campus" in Shackelford County, Texas.

Known as Frontier, the facility will stretch across 1,200 acres, delivering 1.4GW of capacity through 10 data centres, covering an area of 3.7 million square feet.

With construction already under way, the first building is set to open in the second half of 2026.

Innovative solutions

The Frontier campus is tailored specifically for AI applications, featuring ultra high-density racks exceeding 250kW, a significant leap from typical data centre capacities. 

Frontier addresses the high thermal output from next-generation GPU workloads by implementing liquid cooling throughout.

Dana Adams, President of North America at Vantage Data Centers, highlights Texas as "a critical and strategic market for AI providers".

The 1.4GW of GPU compute capacity introduced by Frontier marks a key moment for Vantage, fulfilling customer demands.

Industry-wide focus is shifting towards AI-optimised infrastructure, making traditional air cooling ineffective for contemporary GPU clusters' power needs. Therefore, Vantage adopts advanced specifications anticipating this change.

Sustainability and resource efficiency

Despite its enormity, the design for Frontier aims at resource efficiency. It includes a closed-loop chiller system that uses minimal water, potentially conserving billions of gallons compared to conventional methods.

Vantage is pursuing LEED certification, maintaining a "sustainable by design" approach.

This step addresses mounting environmental concerns, especially the increasing pressure on water resources in several regions.

Boosting the workforce

Frontier is anticipated to create more than 5,000 jobs across both construction and day-to-day operations.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott expresses enthusiasm: "Everything is bigger in Texas and that includes innovation and technology."

The US$25bn investment promises to generate many well-paid jobs and contribute to the local and state economy.

Local officials resonate with this sentiment. Shackelford County Judge John Viertel praises the name "Frontier" as a tribute to the region's history and spirit.

Industry outcomes

DigitalBridge Group, a global firm specialising in digital infrastructure investments, provides substantial financial support for the project.

Jon Mauck, Senior Managing Director and Head of Data Centers at DigitalBridge, acknowledges Frontier as a key milestone for the company and the broader digital infrastructure field.

CEO Marc Ganzi highlights the challenges of the AI era: "At DigitalBridge, we see power and scale as the defining challenges of the AI era."

The Frontier campus directly addresses these needs, following DigitalBridge's decades-long investment strategy.

The 1.4GW capacity situates the Frontier campus among the world's largest single-site data centre projects, meeting the demands of modern AI workloads.

Texas benefits from favourable regulations and energy availability, proving advantageous as data centres become major consumers of electricity.

Furthermore, Vantage intends to support local education, offering scholarships to Shackelford County students throughout the project's duration.

Judge Viertel concludes: "Frontier is an apt name for the Vantage Data Centers' campus and a palpable recognition of the history and mindset still present in our region and particularly Shackelford County."