Penzance launches 45 MW AWS-leased data center in Virginia with 67 acres of public green space

Penzance, a leading real estate investment and development firm based in the Mid-Atlantic, has broken ground on a 45-megawatt next-generation data center in Chantilly, Virginia. Fully leased to Amazon Web Services, the new facility spans 240,000 square feet and is designed to support AI workloads, cloud computing, and next-gen edge deployments. But beyond its hyperscale footprint, the project is being positioned as a new standard in environmentally conscious infrastructure.

Located at 4151 Autopark Circle, the facility will incorporate air-cooled HVAC units, acoustically enclosed diesel generators, and rooftop infrastructure engineered for minimal noise and vibration. Construction is expected to be completed by the first half of 2027. AWS will operate and staff the data center, integrating it into its global footprint of hyperscale infrastructure powering millions of customers worldwide.

This development underscores Northern Virginia’s continued dominance as the world’s premier data corridor, a region that has grown into the backbone of global internet traffic. Penzance’s announcement also marks a strategic expansion of its digital infrastructure portfolio, which already includes powered shell projects and industrial assets across the Southeastern United States.

What makes the Chantilly buildout different from conventional data center developments?

What differentiates this site is not only its scale but the breadth of its sustainability and community integration features. Penzance and Amazon Web Services have committed to delivering a high-efficiency data center that minimizes environmental impact while maximizing public benefit. The project includes 67 acres of public green space, which will be developed with walking trails, native tree preservation, Resource Protection Area restoration, and invasive species removal.

According to Josh Weissman, AWS Director of Data Center Delivery, the facility has been engineered to fit “responsibly into the communities we call home.” He noted that the site will rely on outside air for cooling 95 percent of the year, significantly reducing water usage compared to traditional evaporative cooling data centers. During rare grid outages, the backup generators will ensure continuity for hospitals, schools, and emergency responders that rely on AWS infrastructure, while operating at significantly reduced emissions levels.

The building design will also feature bird-friendly architecture, electric vehicle charging stations, and low-impact stormwater management systems that limit runoff and protect local watersheds. Sound levels during full operation will remain around 40 dBA, a volume comparable to quiet outdoor environments or indoor office settings. The project is targeting LEED-Data Center Silver certification, a voluntary green building standard that evaluates water and energy efficiency in mission-critical facilities.

How does this project reinforce Northern Virginia’s digital infrastructure leadership?

Northern Virginia has long been the heartbeat of the global data center industry, with Loudoun and Fairfax counties forming the core of what is often referred to as “Data Center Alley.” Analysts estimate that more than 70 percent of the world’s internet traffic passes through infrastructure in this region. In this context, the Chantilly project reaffirms the area’s role in supporting the next wave of cloud-native and AI-driven enterprise workloads.

John Kusturiss, Partner at Penzance, said the facility was designed to be “future-ready” and aligned with the infrastructure demands of artificial intelligence, high-performance computing, and edge technologies. With direct access to robust power and fiber infrastructure, the Chantilly site offers a compelling location for AWS and its growing customer base across sectors like healthcare, fintech, national security, and media.

Jeffrey C. McKay, Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, framed the data center as part of a broader regional strategy to lead the world in digital infrastructure modernization. He said the combination of technical sophistication and community benefit was “what it means to invest in both long-term economic competitiveness and the core values that define Fairfax County.”

How are county officials positioning the development in the broader economic roadmap?

The Fairfax County government has strongly endorsed the Penzance–AWS development as an example of how digital infrastructure can support inclusive growth. In addition to contributing millions of dollars in annual tax revenue, the project is expected to generate over 1,000 construction jobs and sustain approximately 50 high-skilled operational roles once live.

Kathy Smith, Vice Chair of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors and Sully District Supervisor, said the data center would serve as a cornerstone for future technologies including AI, quantum computing, and national defense innovation. She added that this “forward-looking investment” would strengthen the county’s position in the global technology ecosystem while delivering “meaningful community benefits” such as green space, noise abatement, and local hiring.

Data centers have become a critical component of Virginia’s tax base and technology workforce. According to recent state-level data, the sector supports over 74,000 jobs statewide and has generated billions in construction-related spending over the past decade. The Penzance project extends this momentum by pairing hyperscale capacity with ecological stewardship.

What role does this project play in Penzance’s broader digital infrastructure strategy?

The Chantilly data center is part of a deliberate effort by Penzance to deepen its exposure to mission-critical real estate. Founded in 1996, the firm has built a diversified portfolio spanning multifamily, industrial, and digital infrastructure assets across the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern U.S. Over its history, Penzance has managed more than $4.5 billion in gross asset value and currently oversees over $1.1 billion in discretionary institutional capital.

The Chantilly build comes just weeks after Penzance secured over $100 million in construction financing from QuadReal Property Group for a separate powered shell project in Northern Virginia, known as Chantilly Premier. That development, also 100 percent pre-leased, reinforces the firm’s strategy of building speculative or pre-committed digital infrastructure in fiber-dense, power-stable corridors.

Christopher White, another Partner at Penzance, said the Chantilly Premier financing demonstrated “the strength of this core data center market” and validated the firm’s long-term commitment to scaling its data center development pipeline. Cushman & Wakefield acted as the exclusive financial advisor on the deal, with institutional enthusiasm cited as a key factor in achieving favorable debt terms.

How is Penzance expanding its footprint across other high-growth asset classes?

In addition to its deepening footprint in hyperscale data centers, Penzance has expanded into industrial assets with its recent acquisition of Southgate 77 in Rock Hill, South Carolina. The 220,000-square-foot Class A warehouse, located within the Charlotte Metropolitan Area, was completed in October 2025 and marks Penzance’s first investment in the Palmetto State.

Southgate 77 benefits from direct access to Interstate 77 and has been identified as a prime location for logistics and light manufacturing tenants, especially given rising demand and constrained new supply across the Charlotte industrial market. Bob Bechtel, Vice President of Investments at Penzance, described the acquisition as “a significant step in expanding our industrial footprint into high-growth Southeast markets.”

Colliers International served as the sole advisor on the transaction, which adds further geographic diversity and cash-flow stability to Penzance’s asset base. This move into logistics and last-mile delivery hubs complements the firm’s more capital-intensive data center plays, offering a balanced approach to sector risk and tenant diversification.

Which financial, operational, and sustainability indicators will institutional investors monitor as Penzance expands its AWS‑anchored data center portfolio in Northern Virginia?

Analysts tracking institutional real estate trends believe Penzance’s latest moves indicate a high-confidence expansion cycle, underpinned by tenant pre-leasing, favorable debt access, and geographic diversification. With AWS committed to the Chantilly site and public support from Fairfax County officials, investor sentiment is expected to remain constructive.

Key themes for institutional observers include how quickly Penzance can bring the Chantilly site online, whether additional hyperscale tenants emerge in future builds, and how sustainability metrics like LEED certification and noise levels hold up in operational environments. The public-private alignment with AWS and local government is also being viewed as a template for other developers seeking approvals in increasingly regulated data corridors.

Additionally, the inclusion of over 60 acres of restored green space is likely to become a benchmark for future developments in constrained suburban geographies. In an era where zoning and environmental permitting delays can stall digital infrastructure growth, Penzance’s model of anticipatory community engagement and ecological integration may prove strategically prescient.

What are the most important strategic and economic takeaways from Penzance’s AWS‑anchored data center development in Northern Virginia?

• Penzance has broken ground on a 45 megawatt next‑generation data center in Chantilly, Virginia, fully leased to Amazon Web Services and designed for high‑density AI and cloud workloads.

• The 240,000 square foot facility will feature air‑cooled systems, rooftop HVAC units, and enclosed generators engineered to maintain sound levels near 40 dBA even at full operation.

• The development includes 67 acres of restored and publicly accessible green space with walking trails, tree preservation, Resource Protection Area restoration, and invasive species removal.

• AWS has emphasized that the site will rely on outside air for cooling 95 percent of the year, minimizing water use and reducing environmental impact compared to evaporative‑cooling data centers.

• Fairfax County officials have framed the project as a foundational pillar for regional leadership in AI, quantum computing, digital services, and national security innovation.

• The project is expected to generate more than 1,000 construction jobs, up to 50 long‑term technical roles, and meaningful tax revenue for Fairfax County.

• Penzance is expanding its digital infrastructure portfolio, building on recent financing for the Chantilly Premier powered shell and its acquisition of Southgate 77 in South Carolina.

• Institutional investors are watching how Penzance balances sustainability targets, hyperscale leasing momentum, and regulatory expectations in an increasingly scrutinized data corridor.