Oracle, OpenAI, and Vantage Break Ground on $15 Billion 'Lighthouse' Data Center Campus in Wisconsin
December 19, 2025
A landmark $15 billion data center campus, a critical component of the broader Stargate initiative, has broken ground in Port Washington, Wisconsin, marking a significant escalation in the race to build infrastructure for advanced artificial intelligence. The project underscores the immense capital and specialized real estate required to support the next generation of AI models, driving development beyond traditional tech hubs into regions with available power and land.
Construction officially commenced this week on the campus, dubbed "Lighthouse," led by a partnership between Vantage Data Centers, OpenAI, and Oracle. The groundbreaking initiates the first phase of a development that spans 672 acres and is slated for completion in 2028. Vantage Data Centers announced the milestone, noting the campus is part of the expansive Stargate project, a collaboration previously reported to involve investments up to $500 billion.
The scale of the undertaking is reflected in its key specifications. The campus is designed to eventually house four state-of-the-art data centers with a combined computing capacity approaching 1 gigawatt. Alongside the data halls, the project entails approximately $175 million in upgrades to local water and power infrastructure, including enhancements to wastewater capacity and sewer lines, to support the massive facility's operational needs.
Major national contractors are involved in the initial $8 billion construction phase. The contracting team includes The Whiting-Turner Contracting Company, The Weitz Company, a joint venture between Turner Construction and McCarthy Building Companies, and Michels Corporation, as reported by industry sources.
The development represents a major economic and technological infusion for the Midwest. Beyond the immediate construction jobs, the campus positions Wisconsin as a emerging nexus for high-performance computing and AI research, potentially attracting further investment and technical talent to the region. Its progress will be closely watched as a bellwether for the feasibility and timeline of building the foundational infrastructure demanded by the AI industry's rapid growth.
Source: constructiondive
