Digital Realty Seeks Approval for Major Expansion of Its Digital Dulles Data Center Campus

Digital Realty Seeks Approval for Major Expansion of Its Digital Dulles Data Center Campus January 7, 2026 Digital Realty has taken a significant step in the ongoing hyperscale data center build-out in Northern Virginia, the world's largest data center market, by filing plans to expand its massive Digital Dulles campus. The move underscores the relentless demand for cloud and AI infrastructure in a region that serves as a critical backbone for global internet traffic. The global data center operator, through its affiliate Digital Western Lands, LLC, submitted an application to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Norfolk District to modify an existing permit for its campus in Sterling, Loudoun County. The filing, made public this week, outlines a proposal to construct two additional data center buildings, relocate and expand two electrical substations, widen an overhead transmission line easement, and update stormwater management systems. The planned work is expected to impact additional wetlands and streams on the property. The scale of the proposed expansion aligns with the colossal vision Digital Realty has previously communicated for the site. The company has told industry analysts that the master-planned Digital Dulles campus could eventually comprise 14 buildings and support up to 1 gigawatt of critical IT load across six substations. The site's total footprint was initially planned at 7.5 million square feet across 425 acres but has since been revised upward to approximately 11.7 million square feet, which the company has billed as potentially the world's largest multi-tenant data center campus. Digital Realty acquired the land, formerly known as Western Lands, from the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority for $236.5 million in 2018 and delivered the first building on the campus in 2023. At least four buildings are being developed as part of a joint venture with investment giant Blackstone. This expansion filing signals continued heavy investment in Northern Virginia's data center corridor, driven by demand from hyperscalers and enterprises. The addition of significant power infrastructure, including substation upgrades, is a critical component, as securing adequate and reliable electricity has become a primary constraint for growth in the region. The project's progression will be closely watched as a barometer for both market demand and the evolving regulatory landscape concerning large-scale digital infrastructure development in key markets. Source: datacenterdynamics