AI data center boom drives sustainable center design and US warehouse leasing surge

Artificial‑intelligence workloads are expanding rapidly, prompting a need for more compute infrastructure. BluSky AI Inc. has introduced the SkyMod model, a compact, energy‑ and water‑efficient AI data‑center design intended to lessen the environmental impact of new facilities.

At the same time, major AI‑driven data‑center operators such as Meta and Google are leasing large amounts of warehouse space in the United States to store equipment before installation. In the mid‑Atlantic region, about 4 million square feet have been leased this year, up from 2.8 million last year, with projections of up to 14 million square feet by 2030. The demand is boosting industrial rents, especially in the Washington, D.C., metro area, while also raising concerns about power limits, zoning restrictions and community opposition.