Sabey Data Centers has begun vertical construction at its SDC Umatilla campus in Oregon, marking a new phase for a project planned to reach 120MW across two buildings.

The company said this week that it was "going vertical" at the site in Umatilla, a city in Umatilla County in northern Oregon near the Washington state border. The city is about 200 miles (322 kms) east of Portland.

Sabey first acquired 60 acres of land along Beach Access Road in Umatilla in 2023. At full build-out, the campus is set to total 120MW. The company has previously said the first 12MW is due online by 2027.

"Watching the first steel go up is always a significant moment because it turns years of planning, engineering and hard work into something you can finally see", said Tim Mirick, president of Sabey Data Centers. "We are excited to build here, excited to become part of this community, and committed to serving our customers and this region for many years to come."

Local and state officials also welcomed the development. State Representative Bobby Levy said, "The construction of this new data center is an exciting investment in Northeast Oregon and a strong vote of confidence in our communities. Facilities like this keep our hospitals, schools, and small businesses connected while creating new economic opportunities. I'm especially pleased that Sabey's use of a closed-loop cooling system demonstrates that innovation and responsible resource stewardship can go hand in hand. We're proud to welcome Sabey Data Centers to Northeast Oregon."

Sabey Data Centers operates sites in operation or development in Quincy, Seattle, and East Wenatchee, Washington; New York City; Austin, Texas; Umatilla, Oregon; Indianapolis, Indiana; and Ashburn, Virginia. According to its owners, the operator has some 251MW of operational capacity across some 4 million sq ft (371,612 sqm), and could triple that by 2036 on existing landholdings.

Sabey Data Centers is jointly owned by real estate firms Sabey and National Real Estate Advisors, and recently secured investment from Ares Management Corporation.

"At National, we focus on investments supported by strong fundamentals, experienced teams and the potential for long-term value creation", said TJ Hofheimer, managing director, portfolio & asset management at National Real Estate Advisors. "We believe SDC Umatilla reflects those qualities, and we appreciate the collaboration among Sabey, local leaders and community stakeholders that has helped advance the project to this stage."

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