Aligned Reaches Structural Milestone on 72MW Data Center in Maryland

Aligned Tops Out Major Maryland Data Center Facility

March 12, 2026

In a significant development for the data center construction sector, Aligned Data Centers has completed the structural phase of a new 72-megawatt facility in Maryland. The project underscores the intense demand for digital infrastructure in strategic markets and highlights the evolving regulatory landscape that shapes large-scale developments.

Aligned, in partnership with Turner Construction Company, announced the topping out of its IAD-06 data center building in Frederick, Maryland. The milestone marks the conclusion of the structural work on the two-story, 450,000-square-foot facility, which broke ground just five months ago. The construction effort involved 345 workers who collectively logged 80,000 man-hours to reach this stage.

The new building is situated within the 75-acre Aligned campus at TPG’s Quantum Frederick park, a larger planned gigawatt-scale development spanning 2,100 acres. Aligned is the park's first tenant, with plans for a total of four buildings on its campus amounting to 264MW of capacity. Nick Sevier, operations manager at Turner Construction, noted the achievement's broader significance: “Topping out this facility represents more than completing the structural frame. It reflects the strength of our partnership with Aligned, the dedication of our trade partners, and Turner’s commitment to delivering this complex, high-performance data center safely and efficiently.”

The project's path has not been without challenges. Aligned initially paused its development plans in mid-2023 due to regulatory constraints, having received only a provisional exemption for up to 70MW of diesel backup generators. The company resumed construction in 2024 following amendments to Maryland's regulations around backup power, which eased restrictions for data center operators.

The Quantum Frederick park is emerging as a major hub, attracting other significant players. Rowan Digital Infrastructure is developing 11 buildings across three sites within the park. Furthermore, Amazon has filed permits for a data center site in the park, seeking to deploy 99 backup generators with a total capacity exceeding 258MW, indicating its substantial planned investment, though its specific development or leasing model remains unclear.

This expansion occurs amid a period of transformation for Aligned, which was acquired last year for $40 billion by a consortium including the AI Infrastructure Partnership, MGX, and BlackRock-owned Global Infrastructure Partners. The company continues to develop sites across several U.S. states, including Maryland, Ohio, Illinois, and Virginia.

Source: datacenterdynamics