QTS Plans 220MW Data Center Campus Near Milan, Eyes Expansions Across US
July 3, 2026
QTS Plans 220MW Data Center Campus Near Milan, Eyes Expansions Across US
US data center operator QTS is pushing deeper into Europe with plans for a three-building, 220MW campus in Vimercate, a commune about 25 kilometers north of Milan in the Lombardy region of Italy. The project, listed as “in consideration,” would redevelop a 277,800-square-meter industrial site previously home to an IBM campus dating back to the 1960s. IBM manufactured computing systems at the plant until it was sold to Celestica Italia in 2000; Celestica closed the facility in 2007, selling the land and buildings to BAMES and SEM, which shuttered the remaining IBM offices around 2014. Real estate investor Kryalos, in which QTS owner Blackstone holds a stake, is also involved in the project. Up to €2.3 billion ($2.6 billion) could be invested, and work could begin as early as this year for a 2028 launch, pending approval from the Italian Ministry of the Environment.
In the US, QTS has confirmed it is the operator behind Project Marvel, a gigawatt-scale data center campus in Bessemer, Alabama. First reported in March 2025, the project initially envisioned a $14.5 billion, 18-building development spanning 700 acres. The company later filed for a 900-acre expansion, bringing the total site to 1,600 acres and up to 1.2GW of capacity across 18 buildings. TPA Group had taken the site through planning and reportedly sold it for $871 million in recent weeks. “QTS Data Centers is pursuing plans for a proposed data center campus in Bessemer, Alabama. We look forward to the opportunity to build a long-term partnership with the City of Bessemer, Jefferson County, and the broader community as planning progresses,” the company told local press.
The company is also exploring a project in Clinton, Iowa, on roughly 1,100 acres of private land north of US Highway 30, near Clinton’s airport. QTS said plans are “still in the very early stages” and that an initial site plan will be available when submitted to the city. The company noted the site will use a closed-loop cooling system to reduce water use and that it will pay for all project energy infrastructure, with no cost impact to existing Alliant Energy customers if the project moves forward. Additionally, QTS lists plans to develop on land outside Big Spring in Howard County, Texas, though few details are available.
In South Carolina, QTS has topped out its latest data center building in York County, marking the completion of the structure. Contractor Gilbane announced the milestone, which represents continued progress on a 400-acre site first announced in 2023. QTS aims to invest $1 billion in the project, with up to nine buildings planned across three phases. “This milestone marks continued progress on our York data center campus and supports efficient execution and strong project outcomes,” said Jacob Bryant, Vice President of Development at QTS. “Our investment in South Carolina supports the growth of critical digital infrastructure and positions us to meet increasing demand from our customers, while continuing to engage with and support the local community.” Evan Synstad, Vice President at Gilbane Building, added: “Reaching this milestone reflects the strong coordination and commitment across our entire project team. Our team remains focused on working with our trade partners to deliver this work safely and support the York community throughout construction.”
The flurry of activity comes as QTS recently pulled out of the gigawatt-scale PW Digital Gateway data center scheme in Northern Virginia, ending a years-long battle over the site. The company’s continued expansion across Italy, Alabama, Iowa, Texas, and South Carolina underscores its broader strategy to meet growing demand for digital infrastructure, particularly in regions with available land and supportive local governments. The Vimercate campus, if approved, would mark QTS’s first major European development outside existing markets, signaling a significant step in its international growth.
Source: datacenterdynamics
