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Northern Data Opens New AI and HPC Data Center in Pittsburgh

Northern Data's new AI and HPC data center in Pittsburgh, designed for advanced computing capabilities.

News Summary

Northern Data has inaugurated a new AI and high-performance computing data center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, enhancing its capabilities in technology solutions. The facility, part of its Ardent Data Centers subsidiary, spans 41,000 square feet and has an initial capacity of 5 MW, with plans to grow to 20 MW. The data center features advanced cooling technologies and aims for high energy efficiency. This expansion is key to Northern Data’s goal of becoming a leader in the AI infrastructure field and comes amid ongoing discussions for potential acquisitions within its divisions.

Pennsylvania – Northern Data has officially opened a new AI and high-performance computing (HPC) data center in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The facility becomes part of Northern Data’s subsidiary, Ardent Data Centers, and will enhance the company’s capabilities in delivering innovative technological solutions.

The Pittsburgh Data Center, located at 615 McMichael Road in McKees Rock, spans an impressive 41,000 square feet on a 7.5-acre site. Northern Data completed the acquisition of this state-of-the-art facility in early 2024 for $7.12 million. This center will follow a phased development approach, ultimately offering a total capacity of 20 megawatts (MW). Initially, it provides 5 MW of capacity, designed to accommodate GPUs and large-scale computing infrastructure.

The new data center is capable of supporting high rack densities that exceed 135 kW, ensuring that it can handle substantial computing power requirements. To maintain optimal operating conditions, the facility employs advanced cooling technologies including rear door heat exchangers (RDHx) and direct-to-chip (D2C) liquid cooling systems. With an ambitious target for power usage effectiveness (PUE) as low as 1.15, the center showcases a commitment to energy efficiency.

John Hoffman, the Chief Operating Officer of Northern Data Group, emphasized that the opening of this data center aligns with the company’s goal of becoming a leader in the global AI infrastructure landscape. This facility is expected to bolster the organization’s growth in a competitive market.

In addition to this launch, Northern Data also announced it has received interest from unnamed US-listed companies regarding potential acquisitions of its Taiga Cloud and Ardent divisions. While the specific companies involved and the terms of these discussions are confidential, Northern Data’s board is actively reviewing these proposals with the aim of maximizing shareholder value.

With the addition of the Pittsburgh data center to its portfolio, Northern Data now aims to provide access to more than 850 MW of HPC-ready data center capacity across Europe and the United States. The company has plans to bring approximately 250 MW of power online through eight global data centers by 2027, further solidifying its position in the market.

Existing data center operations by Ardent include facilities located in Boden, Sweden, and Lefdal and Kristiansand in Norway, with future expansion plans for a significant project in Maysville, Georgia. Furthermore, Northern Data has established colocation capacities in various locations including the UK, Portugal, and a 6 MW site in Amsterdam, Netherlands, enhancing its global presence.

The Taiga unit of Northern Data currently operates over 20,000 GPUs and anticipates the deployment of an additional 4,000 GPUs by the end of the first quarter. This positions the company to meet growing demands in the industry effectively. The company’s Peak Mining division is also progressing with a 30 MW site in Grand Forks, North Dakota, along with two other extensive projects planned in Corpus Christi, Texas, each anticipated to reach 300 MW.

Looking ahead, Northern Data aims to divest from its crypto mining business while simultaneously considering initial public offerings (IPOs) for both its Taiga and Ardent divisions. These potential IPOs are projected to value the divisions between $10 billion and $16 billion, indicating strong investor interest in the emerging technology sectors.

As Northern Data expands its footprint and continues to innovate in AI and HPC infrastructure, the company is positioned to play a vital role in the technological advancements that shape our future.