Solis Arx to Build AI-Ready Data Center Campus in Southwest Virginia
December 5, 2025
A new data center campus is set to break ground in Wythe County, Virginia, marking the first such development in the county and signaling the continued geographic expansion of the world's largest data center market beyond its traditional hub in Northern Virginia. The project, focused on supporting artificial intelligence and advanced computing services, underscores the relentless infrastructure demand driven by the AI boom.
The Wythe County Joint Industrial Development Authority announced on Friday that developer Solis Arx plans to build the technology campus on a 99-acre site within Progress Park, an industrial park acquired and marketed for data center use for over a decade. Solis Arx, a newly formed company whose name means "fortress of the sun" in Latin, was created specifically for this project. Company founder and CEO Robert Noll stated the team possesses "longstanding experience in data center development, infrastructure planning, energy systems, and large scale project management," adding, "The company structure is new, but the expertise is not."
While specific details on the campus size, construction timeline, and exact job numbers are still being finalized, the development is planned as a multi-phase deployment. Solis Arx intends to own and operate the campus, leasing capacity to long-term tenants. Officials highlighted the site's advantages, including its distance of more than a mile from the nearest residential area, existing substantial electrical infrastructure from Appalachian Power, and significant water assets from the town of Wytheville.
The project is positioned as a long-term economic driver for the region. "Our goal is to create a technology campus that drives job growth, supports local businesses, and positions Southwest Virginia as a competitive hub for advanced computing," Noll said. Local leaders echoed this sentiment, with Wythe County Board of Supervisors Chairman Brian Vaught noting the "significant capital investment" will strengthen the tax base and fund public services without additional pressure on local families. Michael Cole, chair of the IDA board, emphasized the value of the high-tech jobs to be created, calling them "high wage opportunities" for the local workforce.
This announcement comes as data center development, while a major economic force in Virginia, faces increasing scrutiny. While the state remains the global leader—hosting major operations for Amazon, Google, Meta, and Microsoft—billions in projects have been delayed in Northern Virginia over environmental and infrastructure concerns. In other parts of the state, such as near Chatham and in Wise County, proposed data center projects have met with resident opposition over scale, process, and utility management, highlighting the growing community engagement challenges accompanying the industry's spread.
Source: cardinalnews
Developer Solis Arx Announces First Data Center Campus in Wythe County, Virginia
