In an era where digital transformation is reshaping global economies, the future of Europe’s technological backbone is being forged not in gleaming city centers, but on the grounds of former industrial sites. Global Technical Realty (GTR), backed by investment giant KKR, is making a definitive statement with its latest project, a major data center in Zurich, Switzerland. This move signals a strategic bet on the city’s emerging role as a critical digital crossroads and highlights a broader shift in how Europe’s data infrastructure is being built.
As a Former Industrial Site Becomes an Epicenter of Europes Tech Boom
The selection of a 7.5-hectare former industrial plot, known as ‘Campus Reichhold’, for a state-of-the-art data center is no coincidence. It represents a calculated response to the explosive growth in data consumption and processing needs across the continent. As businesses and consumers demand faster, more reliable access to cloud services and AI-driven applications, the need for robust, localized digital infrastructure has become paramount, turning overlooked industrial land into prime real estate for the digital age.
The New Digital Backbone of European Data Infrastructure
The relentless global surge in artificial intelligence and cloud computing is the primary driver behind this infrastructure boom. These digital technologies, while seemingly ethereal, depend on a vast network of physical data centers to function. Consequently, these facilities are becoming the new bedrock of the modern economy, as essential as ports and power grids were in the past.
Recognizing this critical need, strategic investors like KKR are channeling significant capital into high-quality, sustainable digital infrastructure. Such investments are viewed not merely as real estate plays but as foundational stakes in future economic growth. By backing projects like GTR’s Zurich facility, these firms are building the resilient and scalable digital backbone required to support Europe’s continued technological advancement.
A Deconstruction of the Zurich Bet Inside the CH One Project
At its core, the ‘CH One’ project is a technical powerhouse designed to meet the rigorous demands of modern cloud providers. The facility is planned as a three-story, 11,315 sqm structure housing three distinct data halls, delivering a total capacity of 24MW. With its first phase scheduled to go live in 2028, the blueprint is engineered specifically for the hyperscale market.
Beyond its technical specifications, the project serves as an anchor for ambitious urban revitalization. It is a key component in transforming the ‘Campus Reichhold’ into a modern commercial hub. This development is underscored by a deep commitment to sustainability, integrating a rooftop solar power system and, crucially, a mechanism to convert waste heat into a valuable resource for local community heating networks, embedding the facility within its local environment.
The Strategic Minds Behind a Global Local Philosophy
From KKR’s continental perspective, Zurich is not just another European city but a central and critical hub for the continent’s evolving cloud and AI network map. Its strategic location, stability, and connectivity make it an indispensable node for data traffic, justifying a significant, long-term investment in the region’s digital capacity.
This global vision is executed through GTR’s distinct ‘glocal’ strategy, a philosophy articulated by CEO Franek Sodzawiczny. The approach blends world-class technical experience with deep local expertise to ensure seamless project delivery. This is exemplified by the partnership with Swiss firms HIAG Immobilien Schweiz and Goldbeck Rhomberg, which grounds the international project in regional knowledge and execution capability.
GTRs Blueprint for Strategic Expansion
The Zurich facility is a key piece in GTR’s broader European portfolio, which targets interconnected digital hubs including London and Barcelona. This strategic market selection ensures that each new data center contributes to a powerful, continent-wide network. The design philosophy is also intentionally flexible, engineered to meet the accelerating demands of both massive hyperscale clients and established enterprise customers simultaneously.
The partnership model of pairing international capital with regional developers was a replicable framework for effective on-the-ground implementation. Ultimately, the decision to build in Zurich crystallized a forward-thinking approach, where advanced digital infrastructure was designed not in isolation but as an integrated and sustainable component of both the local community and the global technology landscape.