Data center developers turn to camouflage as facilities expand near communities

Data centers, once built to resemble relatively unassuming office buildings, have grown over the past two decades into massive "hyperscale" facilities spanning millions of square feet, according to a report from The Verge.

San Antonio City Councilmember Ric Galvan, who recalled the arrival of early data centers in his city in the 2000s, said the scale and visibility of newer facilities have changed significantly as they have expanded to house the physical infrastructure needed to support AI computing.

A changing footprint

As the footprint of these facilities has grown, so too has scrutiny from local communities and officials over their visual and environmental impact. The report notes that developers have increasingly explored ways to make large-scale data centers less conspicuous, including efforts to blend facilities into natural surroundings such as wooded areas.

The trend reflects broader tension in communities where hyperscale data centers are being built: balancing the economic and technological benefits of hosting AI infrastructure against concerns from residents and local officials about the facilities' size, appearance and impact on the surrounding landscape.

The report did not specify which companies or locations are currently pursuing camouflage approaches, though it noted that the practice is becoming more relevant as the number of large-scale AI data centers continues to increase.