Switch Citadel Tahoe Reno: 650MW Nevada Exascale AI Campus
Status: Operational / Active Expansion | Location: 1 Superloop Circle, Tahoe Reno Industrial Center, Sparks, NV 89437, USA
Project Overview
The Switch Citadel Campus, located within the Tahoe Reno Industrial Center in Storey County, Nevada, is one of the world's largest and most advanced high-density data center ecosystems, purpose-built to support the rapidly growing demands of enterprise IT, hyperscale cloud platforms, artificial intelligence, and high-performance computing (HPC). Spread across approximately 2,000 acres adjacent to Tesla's Gigafactory, the master-planned campus is designed to deliver up to 650 MW of critical power across an impressive 7.2 million square feet of secure, scalable colocation space. The first completed facility, Tahoe Reno 1, offers approximately 1.3 million square feet of raised-floor data center space with 130 MW of critical capacity, providing customers with flexible deployment options for large-scale digital infrastructure. Built to support next-generation AI supercomputing clusters and high-density GPU environments, the campus incorporates advanced cooling systems, redundant power architecture, and multi-layer physical and cyber security. Sustainability is a core component of the development, with the entire campus powered by 100% renewable energy sourced through dedicated solar generation and battery energy storage projects across Nevada, helping organizations meet ambitious environmental goals. Connectivity is equally robust through the proprietary Switch SUPERLOOP®, a 500-mile private optical fiber network that delivers ultra-low-latency connectivity with approximately 4 milliseconds to Silicon Valley, 7 milliseconds to Las Vegas, and 9 milliseconds to Los Angeles. Combined with its strategic location, resilient infrastructure, renewable energy model, and massive expansion capacity, the Switch Citadel Campus has become a premier destination for hyperscale cloud providers, AI innovators, government agencies, and Fortune 500 enterprises seeking secure, sustainable, and future-ready digital infrastructure.
Quick Facts
| Field | Value |
|---|
| Project Name | Switch Citadel Tahoe Reno: 650MW Nevada Exascale AI Campus |
| Location | 1 Superloop Circle, Tahoe Reno Industrial Center, Sparks, NV 89437, USA |
| Status | Operational / Active Expansion |
| Commissioning | Operational (Tahoe Reno 1 Phase Live) / Phased Campus Buildout |
| Total IT Load | 520 MW |
| Total Capacity | 650 MW (Master-planned across 7.2M sq ft on a 2,000-acre campus) |
| Tier Level | Tier 5® Platinum Design Standards (Patented Switch Architecture) |
| Project Type | Greenfield Exascale Colocation & High-Density AI Campus |
City Profile
| Header | Details |
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| City Name | Reno |
| Population | 275,000 |
| Urban Agglomeration | 520,000 |
| City GDP | Approximately USD 35 billion regional economy |
| Per Capita Income | Approximately USD 42,000 |
| City Tier | Tier 2 City |
| Key Strengths | Growing technology sector, logistics and distribution hub, tourism and gaming industry, business-friendly environment, proximity to California markets |
Companies Involved
| Header | Details |
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| Developer / Operator | Switch Datacenters |
| Strategic Infrastructure Partner | NV Energy, Storey County Economic Development, Gigafactory Partners |
| Construction Contractor | Switch In-House Mission-Critical Construction & Civil Engineering Division |
| MEP Engineering | Switch In-House Facilities & Technical Engineering Division |
| Network Connectivity | Switch SUPERLOOP® private optical backbone, carrier-neutral meet-me-rooms, and 50+ telecom providers via Switch CONNECT. |
| Power Infrastructure | Direct utility substation connection tied into NV Energy grid, backed by tri-redundant UPS systems and on-site generator power. |
Technical Specifications
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| Power Capacity | 650 MW total utility design capacity |
| UPS Redundancy | Tri-redundant (3N) UPS system architecture ensuring 100% SLA power uptime. |
| Cooling System | Patented HVAC heat-containment and closed-loop liquid-cooling solutions optimized for high-density AI rack configurations (up to 42 kW+ per cabinet). |
| Connectivity | Carrier-neutral design with four physical fiber vaults, dual Meet-Me-Rooms, and direct connectivity to California and Las Vegas hubs. |
| PUE Target | 1.15 |
| Energy Mix | 100% Renewable Energy matched via dedicated Nevada solar and battery storage installations (Switch Station 1 & 2). |
Milestones
| Header | Details |
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| Announcement | 2015 |
| Construction Start | 2016 |
| Phase 1 Go-Live | February 2017 (Tahoe Reno 1 Initial Phase) |
| Full Buildout | 2028–2030 (Phased multi-building campus completion) |
Investment Details
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| Total Investment | $3,000,000,000+ USD |
| Funding | Direct corporate capital expenditure & infrastructure debt financing raised by Switch, Inc. |