Digital Realty, a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT), has started construction of ZUR4, a new data center in Glattbrugg, Switzerland, with planned IT capacity of 15 MW across 6,300 square meters and is scheduled for completion by 2028. ZUR4 will provide access to cloud services and connectivity to Digital Realty’s global data center platform, PlatformDIGITAL, which comprises over 300 data centers worldwide.
According to a press release, the new facility will be designed for high-density deployments, artificial intelligence and machine-learning workloads. It will use advanced cooling systems and an energy-efficient design to support higher-density computing requirements, powered by 100 percent renewable energy.
“Our continued investments in Zurich and across Europe including the ongoing construction of FRA20 in Frankfurt and VIE13 in Vienna reflect both the strategic importance of the region and the growing demand for AI-optimized, data-sovereign and sustainable digital infrastructure,” said, Yves Zischek, Managing Director of Digital Realty in Austria and Switzerland. “With ZUR4 and the continued expansion of our campus in Glattbrugg, we are creating a future-proof ecosystem that connects more than 200 customers on-site and more than 6,000 customers worldwide.”
Barbara Franzen, a member of the Cantonal Council for the FDP in the Canton of Zurich, said, “The expansion of ZUR4 vividly demonstrates how much digital infrastructure has become the backbone of the Canton of Zurich’s economy. Investments like this not only secure jobs and innovative capacity, but also strengthen our digital self-determination as a location.”
Nik Gugger, a member of the Swiss National Council, EVP and president of the Swiss Cyber Security Days, said, “Secure, locally anchored data infrastructure is crucial to our country’s digital future. With ZUR4, Digital Realty will be making an important contribution to Switzerland’s digital sovereignty, which is decisive, as well as to the innovative strength of the Canton of Zurich.”
The facility will expand Digital Realty’s existing Zurich campus, which includes the ZUR1, ZUR2 and ZUR3 data centers. The expansion is intended to increase locally operated data center capacity in Switzerland for organizations with requirements around data location, resilience and connectivity.