Amazon proposes data center campus on former GWU Loudoun campus
Amazon has proposed building four data centers on former George Washington University land in Loudoun County, Virginia. The project is facing opposition from residents and a county supervisor due to concerns about environmental impacts and an outdated zoning ordinance that might allow the project to bypass public review.
Amazon Data Services has submitted a site plan to construct four data centers, totaling 800,000 square feet, on land acquired from George Washington University's Virginia campus in Loudoun County, Virginia. The proposed "Bridgefield Tech Center" is planned along Route 28.
Loudoun County Supervisor Julie Briskman of the Algonquian district has expressed outrage, vowing to use "every tool in the toolbox" to prevent the development due to community opposition. Residents living near the campus are anxious about potential impacts, specifically citing concerns about water usage and noise levels.
A central issue is an outdated 1972 zoning ordinance governing properties in the Route 28 tax district, which includes the GWU campus. This ordinance may allow the data center project to proceed without a public hearing or a vote by the Board of Supervisors, bypassing newer rules approved in March 2025 that typically require such processes for future data centers.
Amazon stated its long-standing investment in Loudoun County, highlighting over $2.1 billion in property taxes and fees contributed from 2016-2025 and the creation of thousands of jobs. The company emphasized that the site plan application is an initial step in a potentially lengthy process, with Supervisor Briskman hoping that negative public sentiment will deter Amazon from proceeding.