European data center operator Virtus has officially begun work on a massive 204MW data center campus located just outside Berlin, Germany. The project, one of the company’s most ambitious to date, represents a €3 billion ($3.5 billion) investment in the growing Berlin Brandenburg region.
The new campus is being constructed in Wustermark, a municipality situated approximately 12 kilometers (7.4 miles) west of Berlin. Spanning a total area of 3.7 million square feet (350,000 square meters), the development is set to include nine separate data centers and will adhere to Tier III+ data center standards.
Originally expected to begin operations in 2026, the project’s timeline has been pushed back, with the first data center unit now planned to open in early 2028. Construction will proceed in phases, starting with a substation, which is scheduled for completion by 2027.
"This ambitious undertaking is Virtus' second site in the Berlin Brandenburg region and follows hot on the heels of the announcement of our Berlin Marienpark Campus in May 2023", said Christina Mertens, Virtus’ Vice President of Business Development EMEA, when the Wustermark campus was first announced. "As we take this step, we are proud to contribute to the vibrant data center landscape of Berlin Brandenburg."
Sustainability plays a central role in Virtus’ plans for the Wustermark campus. The data centers will implement advanced cooling technologies, including closed-loop chilled water systems designed to support high-performance computing and artificial intelligence applications. Additionally, waste heat generated from server rooms will be diverted to a district heating scheme, benefiting nearby areas such as the Havelland and Potsdam regions.
To power this massive complex, Virtus plans to leverage several nearby onshore wind farms, further emphasizing the company’s commitment to renewable energy integration.
The Wustermark campus marks Virtus’ second major development in the Berlin Brandenburg area. The company had previously broken ground on its Berlin Marienpark Campus, located within Berlin’s Marienpark business park. That smaller facility will feature four data centers with a combined IT load capacity of 57.6MW across 204,515 square feet (19,000 square meters). The Marienpark campus is expected to begin operations in 2027.
Founded in 2008, Virtus is headquartered in the United Kingdom and currently operates four data center campuses in the Greater London area. In addition to its projects in Germany, Virtus has also announced plans for new campuses in Buckinghamshire, England, and Milan, Italy.
With significant investments in both the Wustermark and Marienpark campuses, Virtus is solidifying its presence in the Berlin Brandenburg region. The company’s efforts underscore the importance of Berlin as a growing hub for data center infrastructure in Europe, as demand for advanced computing capabilities and energy-efficient solutions continues to rise.
Construction on the Wustermark campus is expected to be closely watched as Virtus works to deliver a state-of-the-art facility that aligns with the industry’s evolving needs and sustainability goals.
