Meta has officially commenced heavy civil construction on a staggering $10 billion, 1-gigawatt (GW) data center campus in Lebanon, Indiana. Located within the state’s massive LEAP Research and Innovation District, this project represents one of the largest single-site infrastructure investments in the Midwest’s history. The “Why Now?” context is entirely driven by the generative AI boom. As Meta aggressively scales its Llama models and broader artificial intelligence platforms, traditional data center architectures are no longer sufficient. This campus is purpose-built from the ground up to support the extreme power density and specialized infrastructure required by next-generation AI accelerators, marking a fundamental shift in how hyper-scale facilities are engineered and deployed.

Jobsite Impact: Engineering for 1-Gigawatt Thermal Loads

Translating the PR phrase “boosting AI capabilities” into jobsite realities reveals a highly complex mechanical and electrical build. Led by general contractor Turner Construction, the engineering teams are tackling the unique challenges of a 1GW power draw. Traditional air cooling cannot dissipate the heat generated by densely packed AI server racks. Consequently, the construction scope heavily emphasizes advanced liquid-to-liquid cooling systems, requiring extensive closed-loop piping networks and massive external chiller plants. Furthermore, to deliver 1GW of power safely, the site requires the construction of multiple dedicated high-voltage substations and heavy-gauge fiber optic trenching.

The structural steel and concrete foundations are also significantly reinforced to support the immense weight of these high-density server configurations and the accompanying liquid-cooling reservoirs—a massive infrastructure demand similarly driving domestic supply chain expansions, as seen when Corning and Meta signed a multi-year agreement worth up to $6 billion to support U.S. data center buildouts. Under this deal, Corning will supply advanced optical fiber, cable, and connectivity products essential for Meta’s high-density AI infrastructure, prompting a major expansion of Corning’s manufacturing operations in Hickory, North Carolina, to meet the specialized material demands of next-generation hyperscale facilities.

Meta Lebanon AI Data Center: Factsheet

Project Name: Meta LEAP District Data Center Campus

Location: Lebanon, Indiana (LEAP Research and Innovation District)

Owner/Developer: Meta Platforms, Inc.

Construction Team:

General Contractor: Turner Construction Company

Utility Partner: AES Indiana / Duke Energy (Grid Infrastructure)

Total Investment: ~$10 Billion

Power Capacity: 1 Gigawatt (1,000 Megawatts)

Key Technical Features:

Purpose-built for high-density AI workloads.

Direct-to-chip and advanced liquid-to-liquid cooling infrastructure.

Construction of on-site high-voltage electrical substations.

Economic Impact:

Construction Workforce: >2,000 skilled trades at peak.

Permanent Roles: Hundreds of ongoing IT, mechanical, and security operations jobs.

Strategic Driver: Upgrading hyper-scale infrastructure to support the intense thermal and electrical demands of generative AI training and inference.

Massive Labor Mobilization and Regional Economics

A project of this magnitude acts as a gravitational pull for regional skilled labor. The multi-year build is projected to require a peak workforce of over 2,000 construction professionals, creating an intense, sustained demand for specialized journeyman electricians, pipefitters, and mechanical insulators across Central Indiana. By partnering closely with local trades and utilities, Meta and Turner Construction are transforming the LEAP district into a premier mission-critical hub. Once fully operational, this sprawling campus will not only serve as the brain for Meta’s global AI operations but will also anchor the local Lebanon economy with hundreds of highly specialized, permanent engineering and facility operations roles.