$2.1-Billion Data Center Breaks Ground in North Texas

Another massive data center is set to arrive in Texas, with a $2.1-billion campus planned for a 107-acre site in northern Fort Worth. This project, which has sparked both excitement and debate, could soon break ground and will be one of the largest developments of its kind in the region. However, the scale of the campus has raised questions, particularly regarding its projected employment numbers—just 37 jobs—which has become a point of contention as cities across Texas offer tax incentives to attract similar projects.

The project details were registered with the Texas Department of Licensing and Registration on December 16, 2025, with a start date set for January 26, 2026, and an expected completion date of June 26, 2027. The initial construction phase at the 10200 Hicks Field Road location is estimated to cost $280 million.

The scope of work includes the development of a two-story data center building covering approximately 251,000 square feet. This space will include nearly 15,000 square feet of administrative areas, two data halls each measuring 25,000 square feet, and additional support spaces that make up the rest of the footprint.

ACS Group, a global infrastructure company behind the development, submitted an application for a preliminary grading permit to the city of Fort Worth. As of December 9, this permit is under review, according to records from the city’s permitting office. While early construction represents only a fraction of the overall investment, the full campus is expected to be developed in phases.

Phase one of the development is targeted for completion by the end of 2031, with phase two scheduled for completion by the end of 2034, according to an April 2025 presentation from Cherie Gordon of the city's Economic Development Department. The site plan for the project estimates a five-building campus, though the final number of buildings may change.

Andrea Duffie, from the City of Fort Worth's Economic Development Department, directed DISCOVERTREND to ACS Group for a project status update when contacted. A spokesperson for ACS Group stated they would review the request for comment and provide a response in the future.

Earlier this spring, the Fort Worth City Council approved a tax incentive agreement with ACS Group, offering property tax abatements for up to 10 years. Under the deal, the city would rebate 35 percent of the incremental value of business personal property after phase one and 70 percent after phase two. In exchange, ACS committed to a total investment of $481.6 million in real property improvements, nearly $1.7 billion in business personal property, and the creation of 37 jobs with a minimum average annual salary of $150,000 by the end of 2034.

City officials estimate the campus will generate $57.9 million in tax revenue over a decade, according to Gordon's presentation. Duffie directed DISCOVERTREND to a City Council work session recording from April 1, where Gordon shared the criteria the city uses to determine incentives for data centers. These include evaluating whether the company is a dedicated customer, the location of the project site, and the company's ability to bring the project to fruition.

"In this case, we don't know yet who the dedicated customer is, but we know who their customer base is, and it's impressive," Gordon said of ACS Group at the April work session.

Environmental advocacy groups have raised concerns about the impact of large data centers on electricity and water usage. Nationwide, these developments have also sparked worries among nearby residents regarding property devaluation, health effects, and noise pollution.

Matthew Carter, senior vice president for digital infrastructure with ACS, mentioned during the April City Council work session that the company aims to maintain a gap between the campus and residential areas to minimize potential noise. He added that the design of the center produces less noise than most data centers. Carter also highlighted that the center would reduce water usage to the "absolute minimum."

Dallas-Fort Worth is already home to roughly 220 data centers, which account for more than half of the state's total, according to Data Center Map. Northern Fort Worth has also seen significant data center development, with Meta's $1.5 billion, 2.5-million-square-foot center located just a few miles northeast of the new ACS Group campus.

ACS Group, based in Madrid, Spain, has been involved in several high-profile projects, including the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa, the Los Angeles SoFi Stadium, and Meta's largest data center campus in Louisiana, which is currently under construction.

More News
Politics |
Lina Hidalgo announces separation from longtime partner
Gulf Coast |
Galveston can't get enough of this strange giant beach find
TV |
Houston TV news legend signs off after short comeback
Money |
Here's how much you need to live comfortably in Houston

For the latest and best from DISCOVERTREND, sign up for our daily newsletter here.
Subscribe
Get DISCOVERTREND's top stories sent to your inbox by signing up for the First Draft newsletter here.