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The rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI) has significantly increased the demand for data centers. As we’ve previously reported on data center construction projects, here are two new developments:

1. NTT Special Purpose Company to Build Data Center in Shiraoi City

NTT TEPC Data Center Special Purpose Company plans to construct a data center south of Shiraoi City Hall in Chiba Prefecture. Designed by NTT Facilities and to be constructed by Toda Construction, the project is set to begin in early April 2025 and be completed in late April 2027.

The building will be a seven-story steel structure with a total floor area of 28,623 square meters and a height of 49.20 meters. The construction site, located in Shiraoi City’s Fukuji Daisan district, covers an additional 32,901 square meters. Towasogo Systems is involved as a consultant.

Initially, Tokyo Electric Power Group’s TEPCO Real Estate planned to build a data center, the “Shiraoi DC Project,” on this site. However, NTT Data Group’s NTT Global Data Centers and Tokyo Electric Power Group’s Tokyo Electric Power Grid announced in December 2023 that they would establish a new company to jointly develop and operate data centers in the Chiba Prefecture’s Inzai-Shirai area. In February of this year, they established NTT TEPC Data Center Special Purpose Company.

On March 15 of the same year, ownership was transferred from TEPCO Real Estate to NTT TEPC Data Center Special Purpose Company.

Shiraoi City is adjacent to Inzai City, where numerous data centers have already been built. It remains to be seen whether this area will continue to expand as a data center hub.

2. ESR to Build Data Center in Redevelopment of Osaka University Minoh Campus

ESR has announced that it will begin dismantling existing facilities as early as 2024 for its “Osaka University Minoh Campus Redevelopment Project” in Minoh City, Osaka Prefecture. The project plans to develop a data center, schools, and other facilities, with construction work scheduled to be completed by 2026.

The company aims to begin construction of each facility in the same year and open them sequentially from 2027, with the school opening and partial operation of the data center scheduled for 2028.

Prior to the start of the project, Minoh City compiled a draft district plan for the project site. After a public comment period, a decision on the urban planning change is expected around November.

The facility introduction district will be developed as a data center, and the international education district will be home to an international school. Additionally, the project site will include stores, community facilities, and pedestrian walkways. Approximately 3,600 square meters will be allocated to parks, and a 12-meter-wide, 840-meter-long sectioned road will be constructed.

Previously, we reported on the construction of a data center on a former factory site. ESR’s plan, which involves redeveloping the former Osaka University Minoh Campus, suggests that the extensive land area and readily available power supply may have been factors in choosing to build a data center.

Moreover, this project involves urban planning that includes a data center, making it interesting to see how the details of facilities such as schools and stores will unfold.