Google Breaks Ground on First-Ever Arizona Facility

Article originally posted on AZ Central on September 6, 2023

Google executives announced the company has broken ground on a new $600 million data center in Mesa’s tech corridor on Wednesday.

The center will be the first physical presence of Google in the state. It will also use “state-of-the-art technology to air cool the facility.” “We will not be using water-based cooling” to keep the center cool, said Joe Kava, Google’s vice president for data centers.

The facility plays a “critical role” in growing its cloud business and the company’s AI innovations. The Mesa data center will help “power” digital services like its search services, maps, Gmail and Google Cloud, among other services.

The company also announced it will launch a new Google Cloud region, to bring its cloud services closer to its customers in the Phoenix region.

The Google development “will have a ripple effect that is felt throughout the Valley,” Mesa Mayor John Giles said.

Like any other city, Mesa wants to create more jobs. People like to “knock down data centers” for the low employment numbers, Giles said, but construction of the facility is good for employers. The center will need regular construction updates as new technology advances for data centers, Giles said.