Jun 30, 2026 | Posted by Abdul-Rahman Oladimeji
Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan, is moving ahead with a data center project. The university's Board of Trustees this week approved the next due diligence phase for a proposal from Fairmount Properties, which will build and operate the facility at no cost to the university. First proposed in 2025, the project has since been relocated to a site next to parking lot 37 following concerns over its proximity to a Native American heritage site.
The original RFP called for a sub-30MW edge colocation data center with space for Oakland University's AI Institute and on-site compute infrastructure. The university says the project will address critical technology needs, expand research computing capabilities, improve data security, and create new opportunities for student-industry collaboration.
"Currently, OU's computing core is split between aging, fragmented spaces in Dodge Hall and North Foundation Hall. As computing demands across core disciplines continue to rise sharply, this legacy environment presents clear technological limitations that directly impact campus teaching and research," it adds.
Due diligence will take place this fall, followed by design beginning in summer 2027. Construction is expected to start at least 18 months after the design phase concludes. Michigan is home to 76 data centers across 12 markets, most of them in the Detroit area. Rochester is located north of Detroit.