Meta is building AI data centers in tents
Meta is reportedly deploying AI data centers in large tent structures near New Albany, Ohio, to accelerate construction amidst high demand and bureaucratic hurdles. The company is also building off-grid power plants to support these facilities, and similar tent deployments are noted in Tennessee.
Meta has resorted to building AI data centers in "rapid deployment structures" or tents to speed up construction, according to data center tracker Cleanview. Six such facilities are reportedly operational outside New Albany, Ohio. Michael Thomas, Cleanview's founder, posted photos on X showing the tent construction, indicating a shift from Meta's initial plans for traditional data center buildings.
Thomas's review of city permits shows Meta erected five 125,000-square-foot tents between April and June, a stark contrast to the two to three years it took to build their first five traditional buildings in New Albany. Additionally, Meta has signed a decade-long agreement for off-grid power plants to supply electricity to these data centers, with construction initiated last year and nearing completion.
This strategy aligns with previous statements by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg about using weatherproof tents for data centers. Similar tent deployments are also reportedly underway at Meta's AI data center site in Tennessee. The move comes as tech giants face challenges, including growing public opposition and bureaucratic delays, in their efforts to rapidly expand data center infrastructure for AI, as highlighted by the Wall Street Journal.