Macquarie Data Centres starts construction on its latest AI and cloud data centre

Construction will soon begin on Macquarie Data Centre’s IC3 Super West data centre, as Australian construction company FDC Construction (FDC) has been appointed as the main building contractor.

IC3 Super West will be purpose-built for high-density cloud and AI workloads, with hybrid air and liquid cooling options.

The facility is the third addition to the provider’s flagship Macquarie Park Data Centre Campus in Sydney’s North Zone. It is also part of Macquarie Data Centres’ broader expansion strategy to meet the increase in capacity demand from its hyperscale, government, and enterprise customers.

David Hirst, Macquarie Data Centres group executive said, sovereign AI and cloud data centres are the backbone of Australia’s AI-driven future.

“Like all Macquarie Data Centres facilities, IC3 Super West will be certified strategic by the Australian Federal Government,” he added. “This gives our data centres a strong compliance posture as regulations around data sovereignty and AI continue to tighten in Australia and worldwide.”

IC3 Super West will offer customers AI densities, resilient data halls, dedicated office space, and storage, said Hirst. He noted the large-scale project is expected to bring more than 1,200 jobs to the region.

“The widespread adoption of AI is fueling a new wave of next-generation AI infrastructure and GPUs from tech giants such as Dell and Nvidia,” added Hirst. “These highly dense compute technologies can only live in purpose-built data centres that meet their significant power and cooling requirements. IC3 Super West is being built to cater to this rising demand here in Australia.”

IC3 Super West marks the seventh project between FDC and Macquarie Data Centres, reinforcing the companies’ longstanding partnership. Their most recent project was IC3 East, the previous addition to the Macquarie Park Data Centre Campus, delivered on time and within budget.

The construction cost will be approximately $350 million from FY25 to the practical completion of Phase 1, which will deliver the powered core and shell and 6MW of IT load fitted out.

The announcement follows Macquarie Data Centres’ $174 million purchase of the land and buildings associated with its Macquarie Park data centre campus.

At the time, David Tudehope, CEO of parent company Macquarie Technology Group, told the Australian Securities Exchange that the acquisition gives the business long-term control of the campus as it sets out to build its IC3 Super West data centre.