Meta breaks ground on $1 billion Oklahoma data centre
Meta has begun construction on a data centre in Tulsa, Oklahoma, valued at more than $1 billion. The facility will span over 2 million square feet at Fair Oaks Innovation Park and marks Meta's first data centre in the state and its 28th in the United States.
The project will create more than 1,000 construction jobs at peak activity and approximately 100 permanent operational positions once operational. Fortis Construction is serving as the general contractor.
Infrastructure demands drive expansion
Meta is accelerating data centre investments to support its artificial intelligence strategy, led by Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg. The company will cover the full cost of water and wastewater services for the site.
Oklahoma's energy surplus makes it attractive for large-scale computing projects. Governor Kevin Stitt noted that the state produces more energy than it consumes, positioning it to support operations requiring reliable and affordable power.
Meta's expansion reflects broader industry competition for computing capacity. Major technology companies are scaling data centre infrastructure to support increasingly complex AI models and services.
Environmental concerns emerge
The rapid growth of data centre construction has drawn criticism from environmental and consumer groups focused on energy and water consumption. Data centres require substantial resources to operate at scale.
For construction and real estate professionals managing large infrastructure projects, understanding AI's role in facility planning and resource management is increasingly relevant. AI for Real Estate & Construction covers applications in project optimization and site management.
Separately, Meta plans to begin layoffs on May 20, with additional workforce reductions expected later in the year as the company restructures alongside its infrastructure investments.
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