AWS Plans 800,000 sq ft Data Center Campus at Former GWU Site in Ashburn, Virginia

Amazon has filed plans with Loudoun County to develop a four-building data center campus totaling 800,000 sq ft (74,320 sqm) at the George Washington University (GWU) campus in Ashburn, Virginia, according to details shared this week by a local county supervisor who has vowed to oppose the project.

The proposed development, to be named the Bridgefield Tech Center, would consist of four two-story data center buildings on the 122-acre site that Amazon acquired from GWU in March for $427 million. The site plan application, submitted this week, seeks by-right approval through an administrative process, which would bypass review by the Loudoun County planning commission, public hearings, and approval by the board of supervisors.

Loudoun County supervisor Juli E. Briskman (D-Algonkian), who posted the application details online, said the proposal relies on outdated zoning policies that were recently amended to remove data centers as a by-right development in the county. However, some sites, including this one, may have data center zoning grandfathered in, allowing the administrative review path.

Briskman, a vocal opponent of new data center developments in Loudoun County, is leading efforts to introduce a moratorium on such projects in the area. "Replacing the George Washington University campus with four massive data center buildings would be a profound loss for our community," she said in a statement. "The site offers a generational opportunity for education, research, housing, and other forms of economic development that could directly benefit Loudoun residents. I strongly oppose this proposal and will fight it every step of the way. I will use every tool available to challenge this proposal and protect Loudoun County residents from the impacts of inappropriate data center development."

Under the terms of the sale agreement, GWU will retain use of the property for up to five years while it relocates its operations. The campus, established in 1991, currently houses the School of Nursing, 17 research labs, centers, and institutes, and employs approximately 850 faculty and staff. The site also hosts GWU's main data center, located in the Enterprise Hall at 44983 Knoll Square.

The application has been submitted to Loudoun County but has not yet been officially accepted for review, according to Briskman's office. The county's planning staff will determine whether the application qualifies for administrative review or requires public hearings.

Amazon's presence in Virginia has grown substantially since AWS launched its first cloud facilities in Loudoun County in 2006. The company now operates dozens of owned and leased buildings across Loudoun, Fairfax, and Prince William Counties, with additional developments underway in Fauquier, Culpeper, King George, Spotsylvania, Stafford, Louisa, Orange, and Caroline Counties.

The proposed campus underscores the continued demand for data center capacity in Northern Virginia, the world's largest data center market. However, the project is likely to face significant local opposition, reflecting a broader trend of community pushback against rapid data center development in the region. If approved, the Bridgefield Tech Center would further cement AWS's dominance in the area, but the outcome of the review process and potential legal challenges remain uncertain.