By Roland Murphy for AZBEX (NOT BEXclusive)
The Mesa Design Review Board recently examined a plan from NOVVA Data Centers to build a campus with five data center halls, office space, a warehouse, public gathering areas and a Salt River Project switchyard on 160.5 acres at the NWC of Ellsworth and Warner roads.
The development—known as Project Borealis—also has a planned retail component that will be presented separately. Most of the more than 1.3MSF development will be dedicated to data center uses.
AZBEX was the first news outlet to report on Project Borealis in early December of last year. The original pre-submittal documents included a sixth data hall. (AZBEX, Dec. 5, 2023)
According to the original project narrative, data centers are permitted by right under the site’s current zoning. The property is part of the Hawes Crossing Planned Area Development and is zoned Light Industrial with a Planned Area Development Overlay and Airport Overflight Area Three Overlay.
NOVVA acquired the site in an Arizona State Land Department auction last August. The City confirmed data centers as a by-right use for the property in a formal interpretation of its Land Use Classification in March 2023.
The most recent site plan, updated in June, shows five data halls of 228,585SF each, a 150,198SF office building and an 85,120SF warehouse. The SRP switchyard is planned for a 230 kV capacity, and there are four retention basins on the property. The future planned retail area sits at the northern point of the property and has two retail buildings of 21,750SF and 17,500SF.
Project Borealis will be NOVVA’s sixth data center. In submittals and public statements, the company promotes its experience as a data center developer and touts its focus on conserving local resources and use of innovative technologies to maximize operational and infrastructure efficiencies.
Local news outlets report the Board took no action on the project. The developer is currently working with City staff on a site plan review and a special use permit application. No date has been scheduled for the Mesa Planning and Zoning Board to hear the special use permit request.
NOVVA expects to complete the first data center on the campus in late 2026, according to company representatives.
The design is led by AE Urbia Architects & Engineers. Other members of the design and development team include PKJ Design Group and CIR Engineering. The project is represented by Quarles & Brady LLP.
