Compass Datacenters Launches $10 Billion Campus on 200-acre Property Near Chicago

Compass Datacenters, a Dallas-based company, has embarked on developing a hyperscale data center campus in Hoffman Estates, Illinois. The site is the former headquarters of Sears, encompassing nearly 200 acres.

Project Overview

This new campus, located in the Chicago area, will consist of five hyperscale data centers. It marks Compass’ first hyperscale campus in Illinois, with an estimated completion value of around $10 billion in local investment.

Infrastructure and Utilities

Commonwealth Edison, Northern Illinois’s largest electric utility, will support the project with necessary infrastructure upgrades. A new onsite substation is planned to be energized by mid-2026.

Background and Acquisition

The fate of the Sears headquarters had been uncertain since the retailer filed for bankruptcy in 2018, compounded by a reduced demand for office space due to the pandemic. Compass acquired the property in September 2023 and is preparing it for structural demolition, set to begin this summer, with construction starting next year.

Sustainable Demolition Practices

Compass CEO Chris Crosby emphasized a careful approach to demolition, expected to take over a year. Materials like concrete, stone blocks, and asphalt from the site will be repurposed for fill and aggregate in concrete production, aided by an AI application to optimize the use of local materials and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Data Center Growth in Chicago

A JLL report projects significant growth for data centers in metropolitan Chicago over the next five years. Edged Energy, in February, announced its U.S. debut would include four data centers totaling more than 300 MW, one of which will be a three-building, 96 MW facility in Aurora, Illinois.