Project Ruby Columbus: $5B AI Data Center Campus Georgia
Status: Active Negotiations / Pre-Development | Location: ~987-Acre Site, Upatoi Area, Columbus, GA
Project Overview
Project Ruby is a massive $5.18 billion AI-oriented data center campus proposed for Columbus, Georgia. As of March 4, 2026, the Development Authority of Columbus has entered advanced negotiations with Habitat Real Estate Partners to secure a 987-acre site in the Upatoi region. The project is a cornerstone of Georgia’s ascent as the world’s second-largest data center market, trailing only Northern Virginia.
The campus is engineered for extreme-scale AI workloads, with a requested grid connection of 600 MW from Flint Energies. Unlike many previous hyperscale projects in the region, Project Ruby developers have committed to a no-tax-exemption model, projected to generate approximately $68.7 million in annual property tax revenue by 2030. This revenue is earmarked to transform the local tax base and fund regional infrastructure, positioning Columbus as a competitive Tier 1 technology hub.
Quick Facts
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Project Name | Project Ruby Columbus: $5B AI Data Center Campus Georgia |
| Location | ~987-Acre Site, Upatoi Area, Columbus, GA |
| Status | Active Negotiations / Pre-Development |
| Commissioning | Phase 1: 2027; Full Buildout: 2030–2034 |
| Total IT Load | 600 MW (Phased: 200MW by 2029) |
| Total Capacity | 4-Building Hyperscale Campus |
| Tier Level | Tier III+ (AI-Optimized) |
| Project Type | Hyperscale / Artificial Intelligence Training Hub |
City Profile
| Header | Details |
|---|
| City Name | Columbus |
| Population | Approximately 900,000 (2023 estimate) |
| Urban Agglomeration | Around 2.1 million (metro area) |
| City GDP | Approximately $85 billion |
| Per Capita Income | About $33,000 (2022 estimate) |
| City Tier | Tier 2 city (based on size, economic strength, and development) |
| Key Strengths | Education and Research: Home to Ohio State University, one of the largest universities in the U.S. |
Companies Involved
| Header | Details |
|---|
| Developer / Operator | Atlas Development |
| Strategic Infrastructure Partner | Habitat Real Estate Partners (NYC-based) |
| Construction Contractor | TBD (Likely Holder or HITT based on Atlas/Google history) |
| MEP Engineering | Jacobs / Syska Hennessy (Standard Atlas partners) |
| Network Connectivity | Diverse paths connecting to Atlanta’s core fiber rings |
| Power Infrastructure | Flint Energies (600MW Total Commitment) |
Technical Specifications
| Header | Details |
|---|
| Power Capacity | 600 MW (200MW ramp-up by 2029; 600MW by 2034) |
| UPS Redundancy | $N+1$ with integrated BESS (Battery Energy Storage Systems) |
| Cooling System | AI-Optimized (Likely Closed-loop with Liquid Cooling readiness) |
| Connectivity | High-density fiber to the Southeast's primary peering points |
| PUE Target | 1.12 |
| Energy Mix | Grid-tied with 100% Renewable Energy Matching commitments |
Milestones
| Header | Details |
|---|
| Announcement | 2026 |
| Construction Start | Targeted 2027 |
| Phase 1 Go-Live | February 12, 2026 |
| Full Buildout | 2029 |
Investment Details
| Header | Details |
|---|
| Total Investment | $5.18 Billion |
| Funding | Private Capital / Institutional Tech Backing |