Microsoft recently announced plans to construct a $1 billion data center at the Foxconn Campus in the Village of Mount Pleasant, Wisconsin. According to 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.
Microsoft purchased the land from the Village for $50 million and plans to spend $1 billion to build the data center.
Chicago-based Walsh Construction began earthwork and excavation on the site, which will set the stage for foundation work to begin fall 2023. A project overview on Microsoft’s website shows that the tech giant believes work will be complete by fall 2026.
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.
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.