Source: Summary and analysis based on reporting from Virginia Business (Beth JoJack, Nov. 24, 2025).
Northern Virginia has once again strengthened its position as the world’s most important data center market. Penzance, a Washington, D.C.–based real estate investment and development firm, has officially broken ground on a 45MW data center in Chantilly, fully leased to Amazon Web Services (AWS) — one of the largest and most influential cloud providers on the planet.
Located at 4151 Autopark Circle, less than 10 minutes from Dulles International Airport, the new facility adds another major hyperscale project to Fairfax County’s rapidly expanding technology corridor. As global demand for AI infrastructure, cloud computing, and high-density data processing accelerates, AWS continues to expand its Northern Virginia footprint — and this project confirms the region’s unmatched competitiveness.
Chantilly’s Newest Hyperscale Facility: Built for the Next Era of Cloud and AI
Penzance’s new development will deliver a 240,000-square-foot, 45-megawatt data center designed to meet the demands of modern cloud architecture and AI workloads.
Key Specs
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45MW power capacity
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240,000 sq. ft. hyperscale facility
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12 acres of a larger 79-acre site
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Rooftop HVAC systems
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Acoustically enclosed generators
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Minimal water use (outside-air cooling for 95% of the year)
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Designed for LEED Silver certification
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EV charging stations
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Bird-friendly building design
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67 acres of public green space and trails
AWS will staff and operate the facility, adding up to 50 operations jobs and generating more than 1,000 construction jobs during build-out.
“This is a high-impact, future-ready facility — and it’s built for what comes next in AI, cloud, and edge computing,” said John Kusturiss, partner at Penzance.
Why AWS Chose Chantilly: Infrastructure, Fiber, and Proximity to Dulles
Northern Virginia is not just the world’s largest data center market — it is the backbone of global internet traffic and cloud operations. Chantilly’s strategic advantages include:
1. Immediate proximity to Dulles International Airport
Critical for network infrastructure, power transmission, fiber connectivity, and government contracting.
2. Access to the Ashburn fiber spine
The most robust fiber interconnection point in the world.
3. Power availability and transmission infrastructure
Fairfax County remains one of the few markets that can still support hyperscale loads.
4. Zoning and political support
The region remains developer-friendly for data centers, especially compared to restrictive jurisdictions elsewhere in the country.
These factors make Chantilly a prime location for hyperscale expansions at a time when cloud demand is surging due to AI model training, federal cloud migration, and enterprise adoption.
Economic Impact: A Long-Term Win for Fairfax County
Beyond construction and operations jobs, hyperscale data centers produce measurable community benefits, including:
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Long-term tax revenue
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Development of adjacent commercial corridors
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Improved power, road, and fiber infrastructure
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Attraction of additional cloud and tech tenants
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Increased land valuations in nearby industrial zones
And importantly — this facility preserves 67 acres of green space, an increasingly important factor for community support and approval.
AWS’ commitment underscores how deeply embedded Northern Virginia is in the global cloud economy — and why Fairfax County continues to be a top choice for Fortune 100 tech infrastructure investments.
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A Project Built With Sustainability in Mind
AWS and Penzance emphasize sustainability as a core component of the facility:
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95% outside-air cooling greatly reduces water consumption
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Generators designed to reduce particulate emissions by 90%
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Bird-friendly architecture
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Public trails and green space
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LEED Silver design principles
These features help address public concerns around environmental impacts — a major factor in Northern Virginia’s evolving data center policies.
The Broader Trend: Northern Virginia’s Data Center Boom Isn’t Slowing Down
This project joins billions of dollars in ongoing investments from:
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AWS
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Google
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Microsoft
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Vantage Data Centers
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Digital Realty
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QTS
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STACK Infrastructure
Between AI acceleration, cloud adoption, federal IT modernization, and mission-critical secure hosting needs, Northern Virginia remains the global headquarters of the cloud economy.
Chantilly’s new AWS facility is simply the latest confirmation that demand is not slowing — it is accelerating.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did AWS choose to lease a facility from Penzance rather than build its own?
"Leasing enables AWS to deploy capacity faster, diversify development risk, and take advantage of strategic land positions held by major developers. It is a common model for hyperscale growth.
What impact will this data center have on the local economy?
"The project brings more than 1,000 construction jobs, long-term operations roles, major tax revenue, and improved infrastructure in one of Fairfax County’s most important commercial corridors.
Will this facility increase noise or energy usage in the surrounding area?
"No significant issues are expected. The data center uses acoustically enclosed generators, advanced HVAC systems, and outside-air cooling that reduces water and power consumption compared to older designs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did AWS choose to lease a facility from Penzance rather than build its own?
"Leasing enables AWS to deploy capacity faster, diversify development risk, and take advantage of strategic land positions held by major developers. It is a common model for hyperscale growth.
What impact will this data center have on the local economy?
"The project brings more than 1,000 construction jobs, long-term operations roles, major tax revenue, and improved infrastructure in one of Fairfax County’s most important commercial corridors.
Will this facility increase noise or energy usage in the surrounding area?
"No significant issues are expected. The data center uses acoustically enclosed generators, advanced HVAC systems, and outside-air cooling that reduces water and power consumption compared to older designs.
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