Oakland University bets on AI data center to give students a competitive edge -- not everyone agrees
News Clip2:35Click On Detroit | Local 4 | WDIV·Rochester, Oakland County, MI·6/26/2026
Oakland University's Board of Trustees has approved a plan to build an AI data center and institute on campus. The proposed site was shifted to address opposition and concerns about environmental impacts and proximity to a Native American heritage site. The project, a partnership with Fairmount Properties, now enters a due diligence phase.
zoningoppositionenvironmentalannouncementgovernment
Gov: Oakland University Board of Trustees
Oakland University’s Board of Trustees has approved moving forward with a plan to build a data center and AI institute on campus, shifting the proposed site to a parking lot farther from sensitive areas after opposition. The facility, a partnership with Fairmount Properties, is intended to advance student opportunities in technology, though some students and community members voice concerns about environmental impacts and the proximity to a Native American heritage site. The project now enters a due diligence phase to examine finances, infrastructure, and environmental effects.
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