The “Silicone Heartland” is continuing to grow as Meta, the parent company of Facebook, announced an expansion of its New Albany datacenter campus.
Naturally, the company announced its plans via a Facebook post.
This expansion raises the total investment in Central Ohio to over $1.5 billion, according to the post. Once complete, the data center will support 300 full-time jobs.
The announcement is good news for members of Insulators Local 50 and other area union building trades. Roughly 1,200 total union construction workers will remain onsite longer, while an additional 600 workers will be needed in the years to come.
“We broke ground in New Albany in 2017 and we have been so incredibly proud to call New Albany and Ohio home and so we’re excited to continue our investment there in New Albany,” Katie Comer, Head of Data Center Community Development with Meta, told WCMH-TV. “So this expansion will add an additional million square feet to the current investment of 2.5 million square feet. This will be a long-term construction project so it’ll last until 2028.”
The expansion will increase the size of the campus by 40 percent over its originally planned size of 2.5 million square feet.
It will create good-paying jobs for Local 50 members over the next six years. It’s possible some Local 50 apprentices could spend their entire apprenticeship working only on this project.
In the sprawling world of data centers, where technology hums ceaselessly and critical information flows at lightning speed, the role of insulation is often underestimated.
However, the skilled members of Local 50 prove that their expertise in temperature control, moisture control and sound control is crucial to the seamless operation of these vital infrastructures.
Armed with their knowledge of cutting-edge insulation materials and techniques, these skilled professionals ensure the datacenter remains cool and free from condensation, safeguarding the sensitive equipment within.
Moreover, they tackle the challenge of sound control, utilizing specialized materials to minimize noise and provide a serene environment for both the machines and the dedicated personnel.
“This investment is a reflection of how important Ohio has become in building the technology infrastructure of America,” said Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted. “Whether it’s cloud infrastructure or computer chips, the future of the information sector and high-tech manufacturing are being built in Ohio, and we value the continued investment Meta is making in our state.”
“Meta was a trailblazer to build in Licking County,” said State Sen. Jay Hottinger, “Now numerous other technology giants have followed its lead and located here.”
The Facebook project is one of several datacenter construction projects in the region. Work on the datacenters, Intel and other high-tech manufacturing facilities has led to a robust work outlook for members of Insulators Local 50. Over the next eight years, highly trained and highly skilled union Insulators in Central Ohio will be in high demand and all who want to work will have bountiful opportunities to do so.