How Rowan Digital Infrastructure is setting new standards for the future of data centers
As one of the leading data center developers in the US, Rowan Digital Infrastructure (Rowan) designs, constructs, and operates large-scale digital infrastructure for global technology companies. Specializing in sustainable hyperscale campuses, Rowan’s operations meet some of the most demanding performance requirements and ambitious climate goals in the world. Rowan’s work enables the continued expansion of cloud computing, enterprise technology, and AI machine learning systems that people and businesses are increasingly relying on.
Founded just five years ago, Rowan focuses on a simple, yet important idea that the next generation of digital infrastructure could be delivered with greater speed, intention, transparency, and environmental responsibility. Since its foundation, Rowan has grown from a small startup into a nationally recognized platform, with over two gigawatts of active data center campus development to support hyperscale customers across the US. As part of Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners, an investment firm focused exclusively on the clean energy transition and decarbonization, Rowan is passionate about its sustainability-driven approach to operations.
Flagship developments
Dan McNary, Chief Data Center Officer, elaborates on the company’s five-year success. “Rowan is a data center campus owner and full-service development platform; we own and develop the land, shell, MEP infrastructure, and commercialize long-term lease structures that meet our customers’ needs,” Dan opens. “Our work spans site selection and acquisition, entitlement and zoning, infrastructure and campus design, construction, power procurement, interconnection, and facility operations. As part of our projects, we have a specific focus on safety, as well as sustainability planning, community engagement, and long-term customer delivery.
“Depending on customer requirements, we deliver both powered shell and turnkey data center solutions. In a build to suit (BTS) powered shell model, we develop a specific campus that includes the delivery of the site, site infrastructure, building shell, and substation or MV distribution, allowing customers to complete the internal MEP fit out to their own technical standards. In a turnkey model, we deliver a fully designed, built, and commissioned solution, including the full tenant fit out (TFO) that is ready for immediate equipment installation at the cabinet level. We then operate the facility to meet the service level and performance requirements, with such product flexibility allowing us to align delivery with each customer’s preferred operating model, timeline, and level of control.”
The Bauxite projects in Frederick, Maryland are the company’s flagship developments, representing both Rowan’s and Maryland’s first hyperscale builds. “In 2025, we progressed our three large campus construction projects, totaling just under 700 megawatts,” Dan explains. “We achieved our customers’ ready for service (RFS) criteria for more than 200 megawatts, four months ahead of schedule, and we did so safely, with a TRIR of 0.25 and over 1.8 million labor hours.
“This is a perfect example of our unique approach to development. The project reflects strong region-specific demand for digital infrastructure, and from the beginning, our focus was on thoughtful planning, close coordination with local leaders and utilities, and ensuring the project delivers lasting economic and infrastructure benefits while being responsive to community priorities.
“Also, we’ve hosted three Open Houses, invested more than $6.8 million in community priorities like education and youth empowerment, and aim to set high standards for sustainability throughout the industry with our Bauxite campus,” he adds. “For instance, the campus achieved a 23 percent reduction in embodied carbon and 17 percent energy efficiency savings compared to industry baselines.”
Growing demand
Turning to current projects, Rowan is embarking on its second hyperscale project in Texas, with the first (a 300-megawatt project near San Antonio), under construction. The second is in central Texas, within the city of Temple, which broke ground this winter. “The 300-megawatt Temple project represents an important expansion of our platform in a strategic market where demand for hyperscale capacity is growing,” Dan states. “This project is a full turnkey deployment for our customer, and builds on our track record of delivering large, highly reliable, scalable, and energy-efficient campuses that facilitate our customers’ AI or cloud requirements. Construction is underway, and the facility will be operational in 2027. It’s a minimum $700 million investment in the community, creating more than 600 construction jobs and over 40 permanent jobs.
“With goals to reach $600 million in revenue for 2026, and $1 billion by 2027, we’re keen to explore the strategy behind these ambitions. Our growth strategy is grounded in disciplined execution that delivers on time to our customers with 100 percent surety rather than scale for scale’s sake,” Dan elaborates. “We’ll continue to build and expand our partnerships with construction management, equipment, and fabrication partners that have mutually aligned goals, as well as deepening our relationships with existing hyperscale customers. Our investment will significantly increase in 2026, directed toward advancing our customers’ hyperscale campuses, and thoughtfully progressing our people, processes, and partnerships to ensure we continue to deliver at the high standard our customers have come to expect from Rowan.”
Reliable and trusted
As demand for digital infrastructure continues to accelerate, Rowan remains focused on raising the bar for how these projects are delivered. “Our priorities are centered on execution: delivering existing customer commitments, progressing major projects through construction milestones, and selectively expanding our pipeline in markets with strong long-term fundamentals,” Dan says. “We anticipate significant change across the industry, and we are always looking ahead to understand how our infrastructure must adapt to support those changes, such as adaptations for continued densification of cabinets, the emergence of quantum compute, and the use of DC distribution in the very short term.
“We believe long-term success comes from pairing technical excellence with transparency, responsible growth, and genuine engagement with customers and communities alike,” Dan concludes. “Thinking ahead, our goal is to not only be recognized for the scale of what we built, but also for how responsibly and consistently we’ve delivered projects. While we want to be a scaled digital infrastructure platform with a strong and durable presence around the globe, it’s crucial that we maintain our position as one of the most reliable and trusted hyperscale developers in the industry.”
