The University of Michigan has officially selected a site on Textile Road in Ypsilanti Township for its new 1.25 billion dollar high-performance computing facility. This decision follows months of review regarding potential locations for the project, which aims to provide researchers with advanced computational resources in partnership with the Los Alamos National Laboratory. The site, which covers 144 acres including university-owned property, was chosen for its access to electrical and data infrastructure.
University officials describe the project as a specialized research hub rather than a standard data center, focusing on scientific workloads in areas like medicine and environmental science. While the university plans to begin development, the project faces significant local opposition. Ypsilanti Township trustees have passed a resolution against the site, and the local utility authority implemented a yearlong moratorium on water and sewer services for data centers.
Local political leaders, including U.S. Representative Debbie Dingell, have criticized the university for moving forward despite resident concerns and lack of community consensus. The university maintains that the Textile Road location is the most viable option after deeming the alternative Willow Run Airport site impractical due to real estate complexities and brownfield remediation requirements.
Project lead and professor Steven Ceccio stated that the university intends to move forward in good faith and remain transparent as the construction process proceeds. The administration is currently reviewing the utility moratorium while preparing for a third public town hall scheduled for September 9 at the Ann Arbor Marriott Ypsilanti at Eagle Crest. This facility remains a central point of tension between the institution’s research goals and local zoning preferences.