$15B Union-Built Data Center Campus Set for Port Washington, WI
Vantage Data Centers and the Wisconsin Building Trades Council have pledged a full union build for the Lighthouse data center campus in Port Washington. The privately funded investment exceeds $15 billion and will require a peak workforce of more than 4,000 skilled construction workers over roughly three years. The goal: deliver sustainable AI-ready digital infrastructure while maximizing local union participation.
Why this matters to real estate and construction
Data centers are one of the most active asset classes for capital deployment, and AI demand is accelerating new capacity needs. This project positions Wisconsin as a core node for large-scale digital infrastructure, with significant impacts on labor demand, supply chains and regional development. Expect near-term construction volume and long-term operational spend that benefits trades, suppliers and local businesses.
Key project facts
- Investment: $15B+ (privately funded).
- Location: Port Washington, Wisconsin (Lighthouse campus).
- Labor: Local union workforce to the fullest extent possible through a partnership with the Wisconsin Building Trades Council.
- Workforce: More than 4,000 at peak over approximately three years.
- Focus: Sustainable, large-scale, AI-capable data center capacity.
What the partners are saying
"This pledge recognizes the importance of building complex digital infrastructure with the best skilled professionals who deliver projects safely, on time and to the highest quality standards," said Emily Pritzkow, executive director, Wisconsin Building Trades Council. "We are excited to start working on this project, which represents a historic opportunity for Wisconsin workers to complete apprenticeships, support their families and invest in their communities."
"Wisconsin has one of the most skilled and highly trained workforces in the country, and agreements like this prove it," said Dan Bukiewicz, president of the Milwaukee Building-Construction Trades Council. "Every job created here means another opportunity for our local tradespeople to showcase their expertise and build careers right at home. When we invest in Wisconsin workers, we invest in Wisconsin's future."
"Vantage is proud to partner with Wisconsin's union workers to build a once-in-a-generation, sustainable data center campus in Port Washington," said Simon Casey, chief delivery officer, North America, Vantage Data Centers. "We look forward to collaborating with local officials, the community and the Governor to break ground on this project with union support."
Scope signals and trade opportunities
Mission-critical campuses rely on heavy civil and structural packages, high-density MEP, and strict QA/QC. While specific bid scopes will come later, contractors can anticipate sitework, concrete, steel, envelope, interior build, high-voltage substation and distribution, generators, cooling systems, controls, low-voltage, fiber, security, roads and stormwater. Sustainability requirements will influence material choices, commissioning, and energy systems integration.
Local labor and training pipeline
Vantage has committed to work with labor partners to ensure contractors employ local union workers to the fullest extent possible. For trades, that means consistent collaboration with hiring halls, robust apprenticeship participation and steady demand for advanced certifications. For developers and GCs, this offers labor predictability and safety/quality performance that aligns with mission-critical standards.
Economic impact and long-term value
The Lighthouse campus will drive immediate construction jobs and sustained secondary benefits for area suppliers, logistics, lodging and services. Post-build, ongoing operations and future expansions can anchor regional growth and increase the tax base. This is the kind of multi-phase campus that can build a durable ecosystem around it.
Action items for contractors and suppliers
- Prequal for mission-critical work: highlight data center or hospital/industrial QA/QC, commissioning and safety records.
- Lock in long-lead gear strategies (switchgear, generators, transformers) and prefabrication capacity to meet schedule certainty.
- Coordinate with local unions on workforce planning, apprenticeship slots and specialty certifications.
- Tighten delivery plans: just-in-time logistics, laydown constraints and winter work methods suited for Wisconsin.
- Document sustainability capabilities: materials, waste, energy efficiency, commissioning and measurement.
About the partners
Vantage Data Centers: A global developer and operator of hyperscale data center campuses serving top AI and cloud providers across North America, EMEA and APAC. Learn more at vantage-dc.com.
Wisconsin Building Trades Council: Represents 15 member craft organizations and serves more than 40,000 union workers building Wisconsin's infrastructure, schools, hospitals and communities. Details at wisconsinbuildingtrades.org.
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