Glendale is the site of a new infrastructure development as Aligned Data Centers begins construction on the PHX-13 facility. Groundbreaking took place Tuesday for the 72-megawatt data center, which is part of a planned four-facility project on a 100-acre campus. The project is one of several data centers planned in the area, according to a City of Glendale announcement.
The initiative includes a sustainability component supported by key partnerships, including one with Arizona Public Service, which will supply a new 230 kV transmission line. Glendale Mayor Jerry P. Weiers acknowledged the project during his remarks, noting in a statement obtained by the city's news release, "In 2025, data centers are essential to the U.S. economy and future growth." The project includes plans for environmentally focused operations and is anticipated to create employment opportunities as part of Aligned’s development activities in the area.
Aligned utilizes the Delta³ air-cooling system, a method designed to remove heat at its source instead of cooling entire data halls with traditional approaches. According to the company’s website, this system is part of its stated objective to reach zero-carbon hosting by 2040 and to operate using only renewable energy sources.
The campus site, once home to a rose farm, is now being repurposed for technology infrastructure, with a reduction in annual water usage by over 73%. The company has kept the unused well rights from the farm, allowing the groundwater to remain on-site and contributing to local water management efforts, as described by the City of Glendale.
Aligned Data Centers utilizes Adaptive Modular Infrastructure (AMI) to enhance flexibility and efficiency. This approach, which incorporates prefabricated components during construction, is intended to increase asset longevity while providing potential benefits to the local community. The data centers, featuring patented cooling technologies, aim to support densification and vertical growth, which may contribute to more competitive and sustainable operational costs.
