The Daily Dig:
Meta is building its largest data center campus ever in Richland Parish, Louisiana. We're talking roughly four million square feet spread across about 2,250 acres, all geared toward massive AI and data infrastructure. Construction kicked off in late 2024, with DPR Construction, Turner Construction Company, and M. A. Mortenson teaming up in a joint venture to get it done.
Meta says the full build out will top $10 billion in investment. They're also putting more than $200 million into local infrastructure upgrades and working with Entergy to add at least 1,500 MW of new renewable energy to the grid, enough to match 100% of what the facility will use.
Project Snapshot:
Owner / Developer: Meta Platforms, Inc.
General Contractor: DPR Construction + Turner Construction Company + M. A. Mortenson (JV)
Electrical Contractors: Aldridge Electric, Faith Technologies, MMR Group (Unconfirmed, Industry Chatter)
Sector: Data Center / Mission Critical (AI infrastructure)
Size: 4,000,000 SF campus; 2,250-acre site
Value / Financing: $10B+ (full build-out)
Local Infrastructure: $200M+ in improvements
Workforce: 5,000+ workers at peak construction; 500+ permanent operational jobs
Timeline / Status: Started late 2024; operational by 2030; timeline still unconfirmed
Location: Richland Parish, Louisiana
TheJobWalk Thoughts:
This is a power driven, multi-year project where getting electricity delivered and commissioned will set the pace more than anything going vertical. The joint venture setup tells you this isn't one big sprint, it's a series of sustained pushes, and the electrical work will stay on the critical path as infrastructure comes online in phases. For trade contractors, this job rewards the long game: solid workforce planning, tight safety practices, and the ability to stay consistent through years of continuous work.
