A new company called AUBix LLC plans to build a $120 million data center in Auburn, Alabama.

Construction has begun on the firm’s new 40,000-square-foot (3,700 sqm) facility on Samford Avenue, just outside Auburn University’s campus, and the first phase of development is due to be completed in early 2022.

“This investment is evidence that Alabama continues to grow its high-tech footprint and the innovation capacity of its economy,” Governor Kay Ivey said. “I want to congratulate the team in Auburn for their success with this project. Our data shows strong job growth in various regions in the state, and I am delighted in those opportunities for our citizens throughout Alabama."

AUBix will offer 22,000 sq ft (2,000 sqm) of available data center space and more than 3MW of critical power capacity across two data halls with redundant power and cooling, as well as additional customer office space, conference rooms, and tenant equipment storage.

The Alabama Power Company will provide the critical power supply to the data center. The purpose-built facility sits on a six-acre site that can be expanded to more than 100,000 sq ft (9,300 sqm) and 12+MW.

“The additional capacity and services AUBix will bring to local business and educational institutions is as groundbreaking as when Interstate 85 was built in the 1960s,” Auburn Mayor Ron Anders said.

AUBix was founded last year by Auburn businessmen, Andrew Albrecht, who has previously held roles at Cyxtera, A2 Adviors, Allegiance Telecom, and a number of software firms.

“Our goal is to provide customers with secure and compliant infrastructure to host internet applications locally, as well as significantly higher internet speeds and the choice of national/global carriers who compete for their business,” said Andrew Albrecht, co-founder and CEO of AUBix. “In turn, that will attract new businesses to the state, support all levels of academic initiatives and research, and bring value to the communities we serve.”

“For far too long, rural communities have not had the same access to technology infrastructure as other areas. Our goal at AUBix is to begin changing that scenario with an industry-leading ‘edge’ data center here in Auburn. Our purpose-built data center was designed to support high compute, low latency applications for local industries and academia that accelerates the area’s digital transformation.”