In Spring 2023, Microsoft announced plans to invest $1 billion to construct a data center campus at the Wisconsin Science and Technology Park in the Village of Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin. Microsoft’s commitment to Racine County continues to grow.
The company now owns 1,575 acres in the Village of Mount Pleasant. Microsoft’s planned investment is now estimated at $3.3 billion and is expected to result in 2,000 direct jobs and 2,300 construction jobs. Construction is well underway for Phase I of the project and earthwork has started on other Microsoft owned land. Regular updates are available at Microsoft’s website and at the links below.
Microsoft Introduces Zero-Water Design to Mount Pleasant
December 12, 2024
Microsoft’s new Mount Pleasant data center will pilot its groundbreaking zero-water evaporation design, aiming to drastically reduce water use by recycling water in a closed-loop system. Expected to save over 33 million gallons annually, the innovative cooling solution aligns with Mount Pleasant’s sustainable development goals. Village leaders praise the project for preserving resources and advancing modern job opportunities, with completion set for 2026.
Kiewit Opens Bidding for Microsoft Data Center Project
December 2, 2024
Businesses interested in the Mount Pleasant, WI Data Center Project, featuring the MKE16 and MKE17 Data Centers, are encouraged to submit their interest in participating in the project. To begin, review the bid packages and complete the questionnaire to match your business with the right opportunity. A Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) is required before accessing additional project details.
For inquiries or assistance, email MKE16_17outreach@kiewit.com.
Microsoft jobs at a glance: Datacenter Critical Environment Technician
Septemver 17, 2024
One of the key roles on Microsoft’s operations team is the Critical Environment Technician (CET). These professionals manage a data center’s essential systems—such as cooling, power, and security—to make sure everything stays up and running around the clock. Their duties include setting up equipment, maintaining security, handling emergencies, and keeping accurate records. Working closely with IT teams, CETs are crucial for maintaining the infrastructure that powers data centers.
Area II - Microsoft Moves on Next Phase of Mount Pleasant Data Center
August 30, 2024
Microsoft Corp. is advancing its $3.3 billion data center campus in Mount Pleasant, having secured approvals to construct an additional 2 million square feet of data center space in the village.
Following the approvals from the Mount Pleasant Village Board on Monday, Microsoft can begin mass grading on the 791 acres it owns near 11508 Braun Road. This marks the start of the company’s third data center complex in Mount Pleasant.
Area II - Mount Pleasant Plan Commission
August 21, 2024
Ludyk Roman, Dewberry Engineers Inc., applied on behalf of Microsoft Corporation to construct an approximately 2,000,000 square foot data center complex of buildings within Area II of Tax Incremental District No. 5 (TID 5). The borders of Area II include Durand Avenue (STH 11) northwards, Wisconn Valley Way (STH 311) westwards, Braun Road southwards, and the Village of Sturtevant eastwards. This approval will permit mass grading across the site, but does not constitute building plan approval, similar to the applicant’s phasing plans for Areas 3A and 3B of TID 5. The applicant must apply for site plan review with detailed site, lighting, parking, landscaping, screening, and architectural plans before the village issues a building permit.i This application relates to CSM-24-3, which proposes merging the separate parcels into a single 791 acre parcel.
Construction Update
July 29, 2024
Walsh is continuing their work driving exploratory test piles to the west of the current construction site. This work will create intermittent noise throughout the day and we expect it to wrap up within two to three months. Thank you for your continued patience during the construction process.
Please direct any questions regarding the 90th street construction site to the Village of Mt. Pleasant.
Walsh Construction works in compliance with the Village of Mount Pleasant code, between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. seven days per week. We appreciate your patience as the Walsh Construction crews work to safely construct this new datacenter.
Contact Walsh Construction Group at MPDC@walshgroup.com
For questions about other aspects of the project, contact WisconsinDC@microsoft.com or leave a message at 608-535-3569.
Microsoft Unveils $3.3B AI Investment Plan for Southeast Wisconsin
May 8, 2024
Microsoft President Brad Smith announced a $3.3 billion investment to transform Southeast Wisconsin into an AI-powered economic hub. This includes expanding cloud and AI infrastructure with a datacenter in Mount Pleasant, creating 2,300 jobs by 2025, and launching a Data Center Academy. Microsoft will also establish the first U.S. manufacturing-focused AI Co-Innovation Lab at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and upskill over 100,000 Wisconsin residents in AI. Community initiatives will expand STEM education and youth employment programs. Additionally, Microsoft is partnering with National Grid Renewables on a 250-megawatt solar project to promote sustainability.
Microsoft Closes on 1030 Acres in Mount Pleasant
December 20, 2023
The Creuziger family in Mount Pleasant held out for a higher price for 420 acres it owns in “Wisconn Valley” and received its reward this month. The Creuziger property last week fetched a price more than three times higher than local governments offered in 2017.
The Creuzigers sold about 407 acres to Microsoft Corp. for $76 million, or about $186,700 an acre, according to state records. Mount Pleasant and Racine County in 2017, when they were assembling land under agreements with Foxconn Technology Group, were offering landowners about $50,000 an acre.
Bidding Opportunities
December 19, 2023
The new MKE03 Data Center, MKE04 Data Center, Administration Building (ADMIN), and Central Utility Plant (CUP) Building will comprise of a 337.6MW Data Center located on a 200- acre greenfield site. The new buildings will be located within the southern portion of the property located west of 90th Street, north of County Road KR (1st Street), south of Braun Avenue, and east of the Canadian Pacific railroad tracks in Mt. Pleasant, Wisconsin.
Foundation Work Underway Through Spring 2024
December 19, 2023
In November, Microsoft’s general contractor, Walsh Construction, began foundation work for the southern datacenter campus. This phase of construction will continue through late spring 2024. Walsh Construction crews are currently installing steel piling to form the building. You may see more crews, trucks, deliveries, and equipment entering the site during this time including steel for pile installs and cranes for moving materials.
Datacenter Expansion Approved
November 16, 2023
The Village of Mount Pleasant, Racine County, Racine County Economic Development Corporation (RCEDC), and Milwaukee 7 (M7) announced plans for Microsoft to significantly expand its investment in Mount Pleasant.
Certification Resources
September 20, 2023
The construction and operation of Microsoft’s Data Center campus in Racine County opens up opportunities for a variety of qualified businesses to become involved. Learn more about Microsoft’s procurement process at this link. Businesses seeking diverse business certifications will find details on certifying agencies and resources on RCEDC’s Entrepreneurship webpage.
Walsh Construction kicks off $1B Microsoft data center on former Foxconn site
September 8, 2023
Another Midwest megaproject is in the pipeline, as Chicago-based Walsh Construction began work on a $1 billion Microsoft data center in Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin.
Earthwork and excavation on the site has started, the Business Journal reported, which will set the stage for foundation work to begin this fall. The project will partially fill a 2,500-acre plot of land set aside for a $10 billion U.S. hub for Taiwanese manufacturing giant Foxconn. Those plans never materialized.
Microsoft moving dirt in Mount Pleasant, selects lead builder for $1 billion data center
August 27, 2023
Microsoft's Mount Pleasant Datacenter Project Update Page
June 22, 2023
Microsoft is developing a new datacenter campus in Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin. Microsoft is currently focusing on developing the southern half of the site (south of the existing transmission lines and Lamparek Creek). The northern half of the site is planned to be used as construction laydown area and is a future area for datacenter development.
Microsoft’s Mount Pleasant data center expected to create 200 jobs in first phase
June 16, 2023
When Microsoft announced its intention to build a data center in Mount Pleasant back in March, one of the first questions that popped into the minds of community members was how many jobs such a project would create.
According to an executive summary for the village’s Plan Commission, the facility is expected to have 200 employees in its first phase. When fully developed, the data center is expected to have 460 jobs, including 330 first-shift jobs and 130 second-shift jobs.
Microsoft closes on 315-acre parcel of land in Mount Pleasant
June 12, 2023
The purchase agreement between the Village of Mount Pleasant and Microsoft is now complete.
The Village, Racine County, Racine County Economic Development Corp., Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. and Milwaukee 7 announced the closing of the tech giant’s $50 million purchase of a 315-acre parcel of land in the village Thursday.
Microsoft intends to build a data center on the property.
Microsoft sale approved by Mount Pleasant board
March 30, 2023
Microsoft is set to purchase land in Mount Pleasant to develop a data center, which is part of the tech giant’s plans to spend $1 billion on development in Racine County over the next decade-plus.
The Mount Pleasant Village Board during a meeting Thursday unanimously approved the sale of 315 acres of land to Microsoft for just over $50 million, or $159,000 per acre.
