QTS Big Cedar: $10B 7-Building AI Campus Cedar Rapids Iowa
Status: Under Construction (Phase 1 Topped Out; Phase 2 Mobilizing) | Location: Cedar Rapids (Linn County), Iowa
Project Overview
Formally announced in August 2025, Project Big Cedar represents a landmark $10 billion investment by QTS Data Centers aimed at firmly establishing Iowa as a leading global hub for artificial intelligence infrastructure. Located within the 612-acre Big Cedar Industrial Center in Cedar Rapids, the campus is being developed in close collaboration with the city government and Alliant Energy to support next-generation, high-density AI training workloads. Following the successful topping out of its first three buildings in late 2025, the project has rapidly advanced, with construction activity intensifying to a workforce of more than 1,200 personnel on-site as of March 2026. A key differentiator of the development is QTS’s adoption of advanced water-free cooling technology, a strategic choice in a region where water resources are critical to agriculture; this system is projected to conserve approximately 4 billion gallons of water annually compared to traditional evaporative cooling methods. The project also reflects a strong public-private partnership model, underpinned by a 70% property tax rebate over a 20-year period and a significant $18 million contribution from QTS to Cedar Rapids’ Community Betterment Fund. Beyond infrastructure, Project Big Cedar is expected to drive long-term economic growth, job creation, and regional competitiveness in the rapidly expanding AI economy.
Quick Facts
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Project Name | QTS Big Cedar: $10B 7-Building AI Campus Cedar Rapids Iowa |
| Location | Cedar Rapids (Linn County), Iowa |
| Status | Under Construction (Phase 1 Topped Out; Phase 2 Mobilizing) |
| Commissioning | Phase 1 (Buildings 1-3): Late 2026; Phase 2: 2027; Full: 2030+ |
| Total IT Load | 616 MW (Initial Phase Target) |
| Total Capacity | 7 Data Center Buildings; up to 2.8 Million Sq. Ft. (total footprint) |
| Tier Level | Tier IV (AI-Optimized Design) |
| Project Type | Hyperscale AI Infrastructure Campus |
City Profile
| Header | Details |
|---|
| City Name | Cedar Rapids |
| Population | 137,700 |
| Urban Agglomeration | 276,000 |
| City GDP | ~USD 18–19 billion |
| Per Capita Income | ~USD 36,000 (city) |
| City Tier | Tier 2 City (Mid-sized regional economic hub in the U.S.) |
| Key Strengths | Strong manufacturing and food processing base |
Companies Involved
| Header | Details |
|---|
| Developer / Operator | QTS Data Centers |
| Strategic Infrastructure Partner | City of Cedar Rapids / Iowa Economic Development Authority. |
| Construction Contractor | Layton Construction & The Weitz Company (Joint Venture). |
| MEP Engineering | QTS Global Design / Alliant Energy (Grid Integration). |
| Network Connectivity | Redundant fiber paths with connectivity to major Midwest transit points. |
| Power Infrastructure | Supported by Alliant Energy; integrated with regional carbon-free sources. |
Technical Specifications
| Header | Details |
|---|
| Power Capacity | 616 MW (Phase 1) |
| UPS Redundancy | $2N$ configuration with modular battery energy storage. |
| Cooling System | 100% Water-Free Cooling technology. |
| Connectivity | Central US hub for large-scale AI model training and inference. |
| PUE Target | < 1.15 |
| Energy Mix | Focus on 100% Carbon-Free Energy matching via Alliant Energy. |
Milestones
| Header | Details |
|---|
| Announcement | August 8, 2025 |
| Construction Start | 2025 |
| Phase 1 Go-Live | Late 2026 |
| Full Buildout | 2030 |
Investment Details
| Header | Details |
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| Total Investment | Total Investment: $10 Billion (State Record). |
| Funding | Blackstone Group / QTS Private Equity. |