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Chicago's digital renaissance
In the heart of Chicago, Digital Cermak isn’t just enhancing the digital landscape; it's redefining it.
Our commitment to Chicago
For over two decades, our data center at 350 Cermak has been a cornerstone of Chicago's digital infrastructure. Originally a printing press, it now serves as a crucial node in the global data network, supporting everything from tech giants to financial institutions. As the Midwest’s most interconnected multi-tenant data center, 350 Cermak exemplifies our dedication to evolving and strengthening infrastructure critical for local and global communication and data management.
Our teams are continuously exploring options and implementing upgrades with consideration for environmental stewardship and operational efficiencies. Regular reviews and updates to standard operating programs have resulted in noise reduction and emissions controls that meet or exceed regulatory standards, underscoring our commitment to environmental responsibility. These improvements not only enhance reliability, security, and resilience but are essential for supporting crucial services from emergency response to everyday e-commerce.
As we enhance our facility at 350 E. Cermak, we're also planning a cutting edge data center at 330 E. Cermak. This new project has been designed to surpass our current operations, focusing on industry-leading stability and reliability, reducing environmental impact, and boosting technological efficiency.
The economic impact of our proposed 330 E Cermak project is profound. A recent study by Impact DataSource reveals that the initial construction would generate $348.9 million in economic activity and support 1,166 construction job years. Operations at this facility are projected to create 205 permanent jobs and contribute over $3.3 billion to the local economy over the next 20 years, significantly boosting tax revenues for both Chicago and Cook County.
Let’s connect
Our investments in Chicago represent more than just economic figures; they embody our dedication to being a good neighbor and a technological leader. As we plan for the future of Digital Cermak, our commitment to transparency, sustainability, and community partnership remains steadfast.
For any inquiries about our Digital Cermak sites, please reach out to us:
Sustainable by design
In 2024, we received the ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year for Sustained Excellence award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for the fourth time, underscoring our commitment to advancing environmental sustainability initiatives. Digital Realty holds more ENERGY STAR® certifications than any other data center provider globally. In 2023 alone, we certified 32 data centers under the ENERGY STAR® label, accounting for 45% of square footage and 64% of total IT capacity.
FAQs
What makes 350 E. Cermak a critical part of Chicago’s infrastructure?
350 E. Cermak plays a vital role in managing local and global communications, supporting not only Chicago-based organizations, but also major global enteprises, ensuring robust infrastructure for services from daily e-commerce to emergency response.
How is Digital Realty improving its facilities at 350 E. Cermak?
We focus on environmental stewardship and operational efficiencies, with continuous review and upgrades to standard operating programs including noise reduction and emissions controls that meet or exceed regulatory standards.
What are the plans for the new data center at 330 E. Cermak?
We are developing a state-of-the-art data center designed to minimize environmental impact and maximize technological efficiency, setting new standards for the industry.
- Uninterruptible power: This facility will be equipped with redundant power architectures that will ensure a continuous supply of power no matter what is happening outside. This is vital for maintaining operations without interruptions, which is especially critical for services like banking and healthcare records management that rely on constant data availability.
- Robust design for seamless integration: The strategic placement of generators and the implementation of sound impact mitigation strategies demonstrate our commitment to integrating this facility seamlessly into the urban fabric. This design consideration helps in minimizing disruptions to the local community while bolstering the resilience of our urban infrastructure.
What economic impact does the 350 E. Cermak data center have on Chicago?
The facility generates substantial economic benefits, including $348.9 million from construction and contributing over $3.3 billion to the local economy over 20 years1.
1 Value of Data Centers Assessment for Chicago, 2023
How does Digital Realty address community concerns regarding its operations?
We engage actively with the community to address concerns, exceeding environmental standards and ensuring transparency and open communication. We have established a single point of contact at 350 E. Cermak, and will do the same when 330 E. Cermak is under construction and on line. Although zoning and other regulatory measures will ensure ongoing monitoring, compliance and community transparency, we establish a single point of contact to answer neighborhood questions and concerns as a best practice. Therefore, in collaboration with the 3rd ward office, we encourage anyone with concerns to write to us at 350CermakPropertyMgmt@digitalrealty.com and we will respond promptly.