US data center power capacity across primary markets surged from 3,359 MW to 8,155 MW between 2021 and 2025. An interactive visualization of CBRE data reveals which metros are driving the boom
The United States data center market is experiencing a construction surge unlike anything the industry has seen before. According to CBRE's North America Data Center Trends reports, total wholesale colocation inventory across primary US markets has grown from approximately 3,359 megawatts (MW) at the end of 2021 to 8,155 MW by mid-2025 — a 143% increase in under four years.
This growth has not been evenly distributed. Some metro areas have added capacity at an extraordinary pace, while others have remained relatively flat. The resulting shift in market rankings tells a compelling story about where data center construction is happening, where preconstruction talent is most needed, and how the competitive landscape is evolving.
The interactive visualization below tracks total wholesale colocation inventory across CBRE's eight primary US data center markets from H2 2021 through H1 2025. All figures are sourced directly from CBRE's semi-annual North America Data Center Trends reports.
Source: CBRE North America Data Center Trends Reports (H2 2022, H2 2023, H2 2024, H1 2025). H2 2021 and H1 2024 figures derived from year-over-year change data.
Northern Virginia remains the undisputed leader in US data center capacity. The market grew from 1,689 MW in late 2021 to 3,480 MW by mid-2025, adding nearly 1,800 MW of inventory in less than four years. In H1 2025 alone, Northern Virginia recorded 538.6 MW of net absorption — more than any other primary market.
This sustained growth exists despite well-documented power constraints. Dominion Energy's limited capacity for new development has been a persistent challenge, yet demand from hyperscale and AI occupiers continues to drive record construction activity. Under-construction capacity in Northern Virginia reached 2,078.2 MW in H1 2025, an 80% increase from the prior period.
For preconstruction teams in the region, the pipeline is enormous. The scale of individual projects continues to grow, with campus-level developments requiring estimating capabilities across mechanical, electrical, structural, and civil disciplines simultaneously.
The most dramatic story in the data is Atlanta's trajectory. The market sat at 230 MW in late 2021 and grew modestly through H1 2024, reaching only 310 MW. Then, in the second half of 2024, Atlanta added approximately 690 MW of new inventory in a single six-month period — a 222% increase that vaulted the market from seventh to second place among primary markets.
By mid-2025, Atlanta's total inventory stood at 1,279 MW, having surpassed Dallas-Ft. Worth, Chicago, Phoenix, Silicon Valley, and Hillsboro in rapid succession. Net absorption in 2024 reached 705.8 MW, the first time any market had exceeded Northern Virginia in annual absorption.
Several factors have driven Atlanta's surge. Power availability from Georgia Power, favorable tax incentives, and available land for large-scale campus developments have made the market particularly attractive to hyperscale operators. CBRE's H2 2023 report noted that a single major hyperscaler was seeking 4,000 MW in the Atlanta market — a figure that underscores the scale of demand driving this growth.
For preconstruction professionals, Atlanta represents a market where estimating teams are being built rapidly and at scale. Construction companies operating in the region need experienced estimators who can handle the complexity and pace of hyperscale data center development.
Below Northern Virginia and Atlanta, the competition among mid-tier markets has intensified significantly.
Phoenix has demonstrated steady, consistent growth from 287 MW to 685 MW, driven by hyperscale demand and the increasing average size of lease transactions. The market's vacancy rate fell to just 1.5% in H1 2025, reflecting the scarcity of available capacity.
Chicago grew from 310 MW to 692 MW, with a particularly strong 2023 that saw 227 MW of net absorption — more than triple its 2022 total. Financial services companies have been a consistent source of demand, and the market's established fiber connectivity infrastructure continues to attract new development.
Dallas-Ft. Worth followed a different trajectory. The market held steady at around 565–591 MW through most of 2023 and 2024 before surging to 870 MW in H1 2025 with 279 MW of net absorption. The market's lower rental rates ($140–$175 per kW/month compared to Northern Virginia's $190–$235) position it as a cost-effective alternative for operators seeking scale.
Hillsboro, Oregon has emerged as one of the fastest-growing markets in percentage terms, expanding from 109 MW to 475 MW — a 334% increase. The market recorded a vacancy rate of just 0.2% in H1 2025, the lowest of any primary market, reflecting near-total utilization of existing capacity.
Silicon Valley, by contrast, has been constrained by transmission substation limitations. CBRE has noted that power cannot be energized at certain sites until 2028–2029. As a result, the market grew from 314 MW to only 484 MW over the full period — the slowest growth rate among primary markets in absolute terms. Despite this, Silicon Valley commands the highest rental rates of any market at $175–$275 per kW/month, reflecting the premium placed on proximity to the technology industry's core.
The data points to several clear implications for professionals working in the preconstruction and estimating space.
Demand for estimators in data center construction is at an all-time high. With 5,242.5 MW under construction across primary markets as of H1 2025 and 74.3% of that capacity already preleased, the pipeline of confirmed projects requiring preconstruction services is substantial and growing.
Geographic flexibility creates career opportunities. Markets like Atlanta, Phoenix, and Dallas-Ft. Worth are adding capacity at rates that outstrip local estimating talent pools. Professionals willing to work in or relocate to these high-growth markets are in a strong competitive position.
Project complexity is increasing. Data center developments increasingly incorporate liquid cooling systems, on-site power generation, battery energy storage, and advanced mechanical systems that add estimating complexity. Senior estimators with experience across multiple building systems are particularly valuable.
The construction pipeline extends years into the future. Occupiers are preleasing capacity three to five years ahead of completion for large requirements. CBRE reported that 83% of under-construction capacity in primary markets was preleased as of H2 2023. This forward commitment translates to multi-year demand for preconstruction teams engaged in planning, design, and cost estimation.
Data center construction represents one of the most active and fastest-growing sectors in the United States construction market. The CBRE data makes the scale of this activity unmistakable — primary market capacity has more than doubled since 2021, and the under-construction pipeline remains at historically elevated levels.
For construction companies looking to strengthen their estimating capabilities in this sector, Niche SSP specializes exclusively in the preconstruction and estimating ecosystem, partnering with firms to build elite estimating teams from the ground up. Niche SSP's consultants work closely with companies across the United States to identify and connect them with the top 10% of preconstruction professionals — including those with direct data center construction experience.
To learn more about building your preconstruction team, get in touch with Niche SSP's consultants. For ongoing insights into preconstruction innovation and industry trends, explore The Preconstruction Podcast, hosted by Niche SSP founder Gareth McGlynn.
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