By Roland Murphy for AZBEX
Despite opposition expanding in several communities, new restrictions imposed by local governments and policy changes proposed at the State level, demand for data center capabilities continues to fuel new project proposals across the Valley.
Two new data center developments—one near Luke Air Force Base and one in Mesa—were recently brought forward for discussion.
Project Baccara
In the West Valley, developer Takanockhas proposed two data centers and a natural gas power plant north of Luke Air Force Base at West Olive Avenue and the North Bullard Avenue alignment. According to the company’s application for a certificate of environmental compatibility, the 160-acre Project Baccara site is primarily surrounded by commercial, industrial and agricultural uses, with the nearest residents located approximately 500 meters to the south-southeast.
The power plant will be located on the east side of the site and will occupy 23.7 acres. There will be a substation placed to the north of the power island. Takanock will not own the substation. Plans also call for a 4KSF operations building and a 23KSF maintenance/utility building on the power plant side.
The two data center buildings are planned for roughly 1MSF each and will be two stories with a total height of 52 feet.
According to the submitted site plan, Arizona Public Service will be the power provider, while water and sewer service will be provided by EPCOR.
Editor’s Note: After this article ran, we received notice APS will be responsible for the ownership of the transmission substation and connecting the project to the transmission system; however, this project will not be taking retail electric service from APS. Electrical District 7 is the local utility.
Takanock’s project website shows the company filed a development permit application with Maricopa County and began public engagement in Q3 of last year and applied for a certificate of environmental compatibility with the Arizona Corporation Commission in Q4. It also says the project has been found to be compatible with Luke AFB.
Last July, the Trump administration announced it wanted to accelerate permitting for data center projects, including those on and near military bases, as part of its efforts to maintain U.S. superiority in the market space for economic development and national security reasons.
A local news outlet reported some residents have started an opposition petition and are expressing their views against the project, which centers largely around resource use and area character impacts.
Takanock has set an aggressive timeline for Project Baccara. The company hopes to begin construction in Q3 2026, bring the first data center online in Q1 2028 and complete the second data center and on-site substation in Q1 2030.
The land owner is Woolf Family Enterprises. Takanock is the developer. Colliers Engineering and Design is the engineer.
NTT PH 6
On the opposite side of the Valley, NTT Global Data Centers is proposing a change of plans for its campus on Elliot Road in Mesa.
Under the new proposal, the previously planned PH 6 and 7 buildings will now be combined into a single 195.4KSF building, reducing the total number of buildings on the site from seven to six.
According to the submitted narrative, “The proposed PH6 design will maintain the same building height as the existing buildings on campus. The building will remain a two-story data center, with two administrative blocks that will be South and East facing. This new orientation allows for enhanced facades along East Elliot Road and the Basin 114 Park. The façade enhancements will include additional glazing, window shrouds, over hangs and architectural lighting. Although the proposed PH6 building will differ in certain design aspects, the exterior appearance will align with the architectural character of the previously approved campus buildings to ensure visual continuity.”
The Mesa Design Review Board met to discuss the aesthetics and landscape plans on Jan. 13. No action was taken.
NTT Global Data Centers Americas is the owner. The design firm is Corgan. Colliers Engineering & Design is the engineer.
