Cologix Advances Johnstown, Ohio Data Center Campus With $568M in Power Commitments

Cologix Inc. said construction is underway on the first two data centers at its Johnstown, Ohio, campus, with the first facility expected to be completed by the end of 2027 and the second in early 2028. The company announced the update Nov. 13, 2026, and said it has committed approximately $568 million in contracted power-related costs associated with the development.

Cologix, a North American provider of data center and interconnection services, described the commitment as including financial collateral, minimum payment obligations and power-related payments. The company said the commitment is intended to protect existing utility customers from costs associated with the campus's energy requirements. Cologix is a signer of the federal Ratepayer Protection Pledge.

Cologix Johnstown Campus: Scale and Timeline

The Johnstown campus sits in Licking County at 12017 Duncan Plains Road, with additional Cologix facilities identified at 11719 Duncan Plains Road NW. The site covers approximately 154 acres. Cologix plans up to approximately 2 million square feet across as many as eight buildings, with planned power capacity of up to 800 megawatts. The company acquired the site in 2024 from an affiliate of the New Albany Company.

The first named facility, COL7, is listed at about 245,000 square feet with 50 MW of site capacity. A second facility, COL8, is a single-story building of approximately 109,000 square feet and is under construction with a planned 2027 delivery.

Cologix said the broader campus is planned over a 10-year development period. The company said the first two facilities are expected to create approximately 70 to 80 direct jobs, in addition to opportunities for contractors and service providers, and that the full campus could ultimately support several hundred on-site positions.

Building on Cologix's Central Ohio Presence

Cologix has operated in Central Ohio since 2014. The company runs four colocation data centers in the region and supports more than 200 customers there, ranging from local and regional businesses to national and global enterprises. Its Central Ohio facilities total more than 550,000 square feet across five Columbus-area locations, including the Johnstown buildings. Its established Columbus sites include COL1 at 535 Scherers Court, listed at 44,000 square feet and 600 kW.

Across North America, Cologix operates more than 45 data centers in 13 markets and serves more than 2,000 customers. The company said the Johnstown campuses will add capacity to its existing Central Ohio base and connect customers to one another and to other markets.

Cologix said its colocation model allows businesses to house and connect their technology in shared facilities rather than building and operating their own data centers. The company said shared power, cooling and network infrastructure is designed to support efficient use of land, energy and water.

Water, Noise and Stormwater Measures

Cologix said the campus will use a combination of closed-loop cooling systems and energy-efficient dry coolers that recirculate water rather than continuously relying on a fresh supply. The company said the buildings are designed to keep total campus water demand below the daily usage limitations required for the site.

To limit noise, the company said the design includes substantial setbacks from property lines, noise-generating equipment positioned toward the interior of the campus where possible, and sound-attenuating enclosures, exhaust controls, rooftop sound barriers and screening walls. Landscaping includes more than 400 new trees and continuous earthen berms along property boundaries, with a design target of at least 75% opacity for year-round visual screening.

On stormwater, Cologix said it has made improvements to drainage systems, culverts and site grading that meet applicable requirements and also help manage drainage from neighboring properties. The company said it has worked directly with adjacent property owners to identify and address drainage issues, including some that existed before development began.

Community Engagement and Local Initiatives

Cologix held a community listening session Nov. 10 and said it expects to hold additional sessions regularly in the new year. The company said it will share project updates as milestones are reached.

"Johnstown is an important part of our future in Central Ohio, and we recognize that being a good neighbor means more than building and operating a data center," said Dawn Smith, President at Cologix. "It means listening to residents, being transparent about our plans and following through on commitments that matter to the community. We are focused on building lasting relationships and ensuring our presence makes a positive contribution to Johnstown."

The company said it is contributing to the City of Johnstown's Lenn Lee Hannahs Memorial Park improvements, which will add a splash pad, swings, an amphitheater and a shelter. Cologix is also working with the Johnstown Chamber of Commerce on its Christmas celebration, including the Tree Lighting Ceremony on Dec. 5, 2026.

In education, Cologix said it is supporting programs in the Johnstown-Monroe School District, including the Big Red Band program, and plans to establish a data center learning skills lab to introduce students to careers and technical skills in digital infrastructure.

Market Context: Tight Data Center Supply

The Johnstown project advances amid constrained conditions in the North American data center market. JLL reported vacancy of approximately 1% in mid-2026, with 95% of the development pipeline already precommitted and approximately 25 GW of net new demand recorded in the first half of the year. More than 66 GW of capacity was under construction, but demand from hyperscalers, neoclouds and AI companies continued to exceed expectations. CBRE reported North American primary-market supply at a record level with vacancy of 1.4% at midyear 2026.

The $568 million figure represents contracted power-related costs, not the project's total construction cost or a real estate valuation. Data center projects often face constraints from the time utilities need to deliver substations, transmission upgrades and firm capacity, making power procurement a central element of development strategy.

Cologix said additional project updates will follow as construction milestones are reached.

Sources

• Cologix: Cologix Shares Johnstown Data Center Project Update, Reinforces Commitment to Local Community