The start of construction was formally marked with a ground-breaking ceremony on a new CyrusOne data centre campus in Aurora, Illinois, US. 

This new data centre campus, encompassing two buildings with a combined area of 446,000ft² and delivering an initial IT capacity of 40MW, represents a $350m investment by CyrusOne.  

It is designed to accommodate future growth and expansion. 

Set to open in early 2026, the project is anticipated to generate hundreds of construction jobs, in addition to creating more than 20 permanent full-time positions once operational.  

CyrusOne CEO Eric Schwartz said: “With Chicagoland being the third-largest data centre market nationally and demand continuing surging, this expansion aligns perfectly with our strategic plan to enhance our capacity and capabilities. 

“This investment reinforces our commitment to innovation and meeting the evolving needs of our customer base in this critical market.” 

CyrusOne's investment has been bolstered by a partnership with the State of Illinois, securing approval for the state's Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity’s data centre investment programme. 

This includes a project labour agreement that ensures the construction of the facility will be carried out with the involvement of IBEW as the primary labour partner.  

With this new development, CyrusOne's total investment in Illinois surpasses $1bn. 

ComEd president and CEO Gil Quiniones said: “CyrusOne’s new site in Aurora will deliver on those goals, while prioritising sustainable building and ensuring opportunities for revenue and job growth for Illinois.  

“We look forward to delivering the resilient and reliable electrical infrastructure needed to serve their needs today and well into the future.”