Image Credit – Vantage Data Center
Wisconsin AI Data Center Development Enters Construction Phase
Vantage Data Centers has broken ground on the Lighthouse data center project in Port Washington, Wisconsin. The project, known as Lighthouse, is backed by Oracle, OpenAI, and Vantage Data Centers. Together, the partners plan a total investment of about $15 billion over multiple phases.
Construction began just before year-end. Crews are working on the first phase, valued at roughly $8 billion. The full campus is scheduled for completion in 2028. As a result, the project ranks among the largest AI-oriented data center developments currently underway in the United States.
Campus Scale and Infrastructure Commitments
The Lighthouse campus covers about 672 acres. It will include four data center buildings. Once completed, the site is expected to support nearly one gigawatt of computing capacity. Consequently, the project places Wisconsin among a growing group of high-capacity AI infrastructure markets.
Several major contractors are involved in the first phase. They include Whiting-Turner Contracting, Weitz Construction, and a joint venture of Turner Construction and McCarthy Building Cos. Michels, based in Wisconsin, is also part of the construction team. Together, these firms are responsible for delivering the initial build.
In addition, the project includes extensive regional infrastructure upgrades. Plans call for about $175 million in local water and power improvements. Wastewater capacity and sewer systems will also be expanded. These investments are required to support high-density computing operations at scale.
Delivery Timeline and Broader Significance
Construction firms expect to complete the project in 2028. The schedule reflects longer timelines now common for AI-focused data centers. Power availability, water access, and permitting continue to shape delivery dates.
At the same time, the Wisconsin AI data center development highlights a broader shift in U.S. infrastructure geography. Increasingly, developers are moving beyond coastal hubs. Instead, they are targeting regions that can support sustained power, land availability, and long-term expansion. As a result, the Midwest is emerging as a strategic location for next-generation compute capacity.
