MEETING THE SURGE IN DEMANDS

Amazon Web Services (AWS) has submitted an application to build three new data centers in Loudoun County, Northern Virginia, and looks forward to fast-track the approval.

Totaling about 300,000 square feet, the three data centers will be sited across a 90-acre land, which Amazon acquired last year from Inova Health System Foundation for $116.4 million.

Fast-tracking the project development which includes the approval stages, is not surprising as AWS could be making an effort to meet the rising demand for cloud services which is significantly influenced by the coronavirus crisis, having millions to work from home and conduct their businesses using cloud infrastructure.

The company’s spokesman further said in a statement: “We have taken measures to prepare and we are confident we will be able to meet customer demands for capacity in response to COVID-19.”

The application was submitted by Jason Fogle, a real estate acquisition and development representative for AWS, and the civil engineer is Chantilly-based JCL Consulting LLC. The application also states that the facilities are expected to create about 40 jobs.

A rough investment of $200 million has been budgeted for the data center project by Amazon. The development is divided into three phases, and the first; which is the largest will see the completion of 260,000 square feet, according to the plans.

“We’ve been working with our data center industry not only to ensure the continuity of operations but we’ve also been trying to fast track whatever we can to make sure they get the facilities up and running that they need to have,” said Buddy Rizer, executive director for Loudoun’s Department of Economic Development.

Although not a guarantee for a fast-track approval, Rizer said he expects that Loudoun could shave months off the delivery of projects such as a data center.

Amazon has data centers in operation across Loudoun County, including several being developed on its behalf – north of Route 606 in Sterling by Corporate Office Properties Trust. Amazon has also made several large land acquisitions in Loudoun and Fairfax counties over the last six months for data center projects, which include $73 million for a 4.36 million square foot site along Willard Road; north of Route 50 and $54 million for 2.4 million square feet in Herndon.