Facebook opens Central Ohio data center and a one million square foot expansion
The fiber is lit and streaming live traffic. Facebook announced Thursday their New Albany data center they started in 2017 is up and running, and now they plan to expand. (WSYX/WTTE)
NEW ALBANY, Ohio (WSYX/WTTE) — The fiber is lit and streaming live traffic. Facebook announced Thursday their New Albany data center they started in 2017 is up and running, and now they plan to expand.
The 340-acre campus is just off Route 161 and Beech Road. When complete, it will have five buildings, making it a 2.5 million square foot property.
The center is part of the company’s 15 global infrastructure sites and according to managers, is the world’s most energy-efficient and water-efficient data centers on the planet.
Mike Reffle, Director of Data Center Operations said: “our data centers are 40% more efficient than the average data center from an electrical energy perspective and 80% more effective from a water usage perspective.”
“We ask ourselves how much energy does it take to support one Facebook user for an entire year. It’s about the same amount of energy it takes to make a cup of coffee,” Reffle said.
Bobby Hollis, Director of Global Energy, Environment and Site Selection at Facebook said New Albany has tremendous infrastructure and a great talent pool. “We say community a lot. But that is because the people that work in these data centers live in these communities. So we really do look to connect with the community, connect with the people.”
Facebook held tours for central Ohio media and area leaders on Thursday. The company announced it is giving a $190,000 grant to Licking Heights School District, and $250,000 to New Albany’s Rose Run park project.
The data center will represent an investment of $1 billion, and supports 150 permanent jobs, along with about 1000 construction jobs.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine called it “a happy day.”
“I forward to many great days ahead and looking forward to more construction and more jobs coming,” said DeWine.
New Albany Mayor Sloan Spaulding said the city takes pride in staff understanding the importance of moving quickly in a global marketplace. “Only two years ago we were announcing this location and today we are celebrating its grand opening and that is remarkably fast.”
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