The “Project Red Hawk” data center campus project by Google in southeast Mesa is a planned development intended to support the company’s digital infrastructure operations. Construction commenced on the $1 billion project, which is located on a site of approximately 185 acres at the northwest corner of Sossaman and Elliot roads.

According to local officials, the project forms part of ongoing development within the Elliot Road Technology Corridor. The facility is planned to support data processing and related operations as part of broader infrastructure expansion activities in the area.

To facilitate the project, Google entered into a government property lease excise tax (GPLET) agreement with Mesa. This arrangement allows the land to be leased to Google under a 25-year term, resulting in reduced property taxes. The GPLET agreement includes specific commitments from Google, such as completing the first phase of the data center development by July 2025. With designated capital expenditures and taxable construction costs. As of early 2026, the project is moving forward amidst increasing state scrutiny regarding the energy impact of massive data center growth in the Phoenix area

Other Projects

The $1bn Google “Project Red Hawk” data center campus is not the only one advancing in Arizona as Project Blue makes strides. Beale infrastructure has commenced land site preparation for the $3.6bn data center project, a monumental step. The controversial project has been a topic of discussion since its proposal. However, not much construction was noted on the 290-acre site, an aspect that is changing now. Recent development shows the addition of a new gate that is being used to let needed construction equipment onto the site.

Read also: Plans set for construction of new LHR21 facility for Vantage Data Centers in London

More on the Google Data Center Campus Project in Mesa

The first phase of Google’s data center entails the construction of a 288,530-square-foot data center building, a utility switchyard, a medium voltage substation, a security kiosk at the site entry, upgrades to public roads, and an employee office building. Additionally, the site plan outlines future stages, totaling 750,000 square feet. According to Google, the data center in Mesa will play a crucial role in fuelling the company’s core features such as Search, Gmail, Maps, and ongoing advancements in artificial intelligence.

Google has further obligations outlined in the development agreement with Mesa. By 2027, the company must invest a total of $800 million including taxable construction costs.  And also have constructed 500,000 square feet of development. By 2029, the minimum investment is set at $1 billion, with additional taxable building costs and 750,000sq of development. The entire project is expected to be completed by 2030. Google ensures an average yearly compensation of at least $65,000 for full-time data center employees.

The construction of Google’s data center campus in Mesa signifies a substantial commitment by the company to expand its infrastructure. And further, enhance its digital services. As the project progresses, it will undoubtedly contribute to the economic growth of Mesa.