Provo Warehouse Site Slated for Major Data Center Redevelopment
February 6, 2026
A significant redevelopment proposal in Provo, Utah, underscores the continued expansion of digital infrastructure into secondary markets, driven by demand for AI and cloud computing capacity. The project highlights how cities are adapting zoning laws to manage this growth while attracting substantial capital investment. According to city planning documents, developer B+F Timpanogos has submitted requests to transform a long-vacant, 50,000-square-foot warehouse at 1507 S 180 E into a modern data center. The proposals, set for review by the Provo Planning Commission, seek a zoning amendment to include the property in the city's designated data center overlay district and approval for the construction of a new two-story facility. The planned data center would span approximately 66,000 square feet per floor, totaling 132,000 square feet across the nine-acre site. It is designed to launch with an initial IT capacity of 5 megawatts, with the infrastructure built to scale up to 30 megawatts. City staff have recommended approval for both requests. An estimated $280 million could be invested in the project. In a shift from earlier plans, the facility will be primarily powered by the grid, with Provo Power serving as the utility provider, rather than relying on on-site generation. The design includes a closed-loop cooling system intended to minimize water usage, though backup generators will run on natural gas. The site's history includes being part of the former Novell software campus and, more recently, occupancy by care services provider Chrysalis. The proposal navigates local regulations established last year when Provo created its data center overlay zone to control where such facilities can be built. A key ordinance prohibits data centers within 200 feet of a school property. While a charter school is located to the south, city documents note the same owner controls both parcels and plans to adjust the property lines to comply with the requirement. This development is part of a broader trend of data center growth in regions like Utah, which offer favorable conditions including available land and established utility partnerships. The conversion of an obsolete industrial asset into critical digital infrastructure reflects the evolving economic landscape of tech-adjacent cities.
Source: datacenterdynamics
