Innovative tech companies such as Meta, Microsoft and Apple operate data centers within the region. Microsoft opened its first data center in West Des Moines in 2012. Since then, Microsoft’s presence has grown to 20 data center buildings on five campuses. They employ over 600 people in the region. The company has two additional sites scheduled for development in the near future.
Since 2013, Meta has invested more than $3 billion in an Altoona, Iowa data center campus – one of the world’s largest, comprised of more than 5 million square feet onsite. Today, the data center employs more than 400 people and continues to invest in the region.
Apple acquired 2,000 acres in Greater Des Moines and to date has built a 400,000-square-foot data center in Waukee, Iowa. This is the first of multiple data centers expected on the site.
Other data centers in the region include Aureon, LightEdge Solutions, Edged Energy, Cologix, InfoBunker and US Signal.
Understanding Data Centers in Greater Des Moines
Data centers have been part of Greater Des Moines for more than two decades and are an important part of the digital infrastructure that supports businesses, institutions and our economy. During that time, communities, utilities, construction and skilled-trades partners, educational institutions, and economic development organizations across the region have worked closely with data center operators.
The industry has changed significantly. Advances in technology, facility design, energy efficiency and water management continue to change how data centers are built, operated and use resources.
As data center development has increased, so has interest in energy and water use and the impact on infrastructure. These are important considerations for communities as they plan for growth and future infrastructure needs.
Resource use varies by data center based on the size and type of facility, the technology being supported, cooling systems and operating practices. The utility system serving a facility and the infrastructure available within the community also factor into how resources are supplied and managed.
The resources below provide information about data centers in Greater Des Moines, including energy and water use, utility infrastructure, efficiency and sustainability efforts, and other information relevant to understanding their presence in the region.