Data center redevelopment at 300 West Adams approved
A historic Chicago building at 300 West Adams has received approval for redevelopment into a high-density data center. This approval comes as Mayor Brandon Johnson and several City Council members have proposed a citywide 12-month moratorium on new data centers due to concerns over power, water usage, and emissions. Developers are awaiting final permits to begin the buildout.
A proposal to convert a portion of the historic 1927 Gothic Revival terra cotta building at 300 West Adams Street in Chicago's Loop into a high-density data center has been approved by the Permit Review Committee of the Commission on Chicago Landmarks. Developer Chilled AI is leading the adaptive reuse, collaborating with architects ZPD+A and C+K Architecture. The plan includes installing a high-capacity ComEd electrical vault by removing three Franklin Street retail spaces, and supporting 10 backup diesel generators on a rooftop steel platform. Interior demolition permits have already been secured, with final architectural and structural renovation permits pending.
This project approval coincides with a significant push from City Hall to pause similar developments citywide. Mayor Brandon Johnson, alongside 49th Ward Alderman Maria Hadden, 48th Ward Alderman Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth, and 4th Ward Alderman Lamont J. Robinson, has introduced an ordinance calling for an immediate 12-month moratorium on new data centers and major facility expansions. Mayor Johnson emphasized, "Chicago is open for business, but we are not for sale," reflecting concerns. The proposed moratorium follows an August 2026 executive order and a July report from the city's Sustainable Data Centers Working Group, both citing worries that data centers consume 30 to 60 times more power per square foot than standard office spaces, thereby straining the electrical grid and raising issues regarding water cooling and generator emissions.