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Area Development - Site Selection, Facility Planning and Workforce Development

Facebook to Locate $800 Million Data Center in DeKalb, Illinois

07/01/2020
Facebook’s $800 million data center will be built on 505 acres of the 1,000 acre ChicagoWest Business Center property in DeKalb, Illinois.

The Facebook site can hold five buildings, two of which will be completed by 2022. Facebook said its 907,000 square-foot data center will operate on 100 percent renewable energy, and create about 100 jobs.

“Krusinski Construction Company is proud to have helped make Facebook’s investment in DeKalb possible,” said Jerry Krusinski, CEO of Krusinski Construction. “We recognized the potential of this location for mission-critical data centers given its proximity to transmission voltage electrical power, abundant water supply, essential sanitary capacity, multiple broad-band carriers, easy access to interstate transportation, accessible utilities, and ready workforce. We are totally engaged in delivering on the first phase of this development as we provide the utility infrastructure and roadwork improvements necessary to make the project a success.”

“As time progresses, we will decide if it makes sense for us to continue to expand,” said Rachel Peterson, vice president of data center strategy for Facebook. “There are many variables that enter into the decision process for data center locations, and DeKalb provided many compelling reasons for Facebook to bring our newest data center to Illinois. We’re so thankful to the City of DeKalb, the DeKalb County Economic Development Corporation, the Illinois Department of Commerce & Economic Opportunity, and all of our community partners for their diligence and enthusiasm throughout this process. We are proud to join the DeKalb community and look forward to a strong relationship for years to come.”

“This new state-of-the-art data center will advance the State of Illinois’s commitment to growing technology and renewable energy throughout our state,” said Acting Director of the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Michael Negron.

According to the State Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, DeKalb was chosen as the site for Facebook’s newest data center due to its access to renewable energy, a strong talent pool, higher education institutions, community partners and strong infrastructure.

Facebook is partnering with the City of DeKalb, the Kishwaukee Water Reclamation District, and Krusinski Construction Company to help design, build and provide support for infrastructure in the area. This includes nearly three miles of water lines, one and a half miles of sewer extension and repaving local roads, state officials said.

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