CENTRA Breaks Ground on 12MW MSP1 Data Centre in Minnesota
CENTRA has begun construction on MSP1, a 12MW carrier-neutral interconnection data centre in Eagan, Minnesota.
The project, which reuses and upgrades a former enterprise-owned site, represents a major investment in sustainable infrastructure, low-latency connectivity and the expansion of CENTRA’s national interconnection platform.
The new facility is strategically located near metro fibre rings and long-haul points of presence, positioning it as a regional hub for direct, low-latency access to leading networks, content platforms and cloud providers.
MSP1 is engineered to handle the demands of AI-ready workloads, edge deployments and modern, high-resiliency colocation environments.
Infrastructure designed for performance
As a Tier III+ facility, MSP1 has been planned to deliver fault-tolerant and high-availability operations. It will feature 12MW of scalable critical capacity, four diverse points of entry for physically redundant fibre access and fully redundant Meet-Me Rooms for carrier and network interconnection.
Power resilience will be supported by distributed redundant power in a 4/3 configuration, along with N+1 cooling systems to ensure uptime.
Deployment options include high-density, AI-ready racks and cages, as well as custom-built NNN suites for tenants with specific requirements.
Sustainability at the forefront
CENTRA is positioning MSP1 as a model for sustainable digital infrastructure. The project involves transforming and modernising the existing facility to significantly reduce environmental impact while accelerating time to market.
Cooling will be provided by energy-efficient refrigerant-based systems, including free cooling for almost half the year. The site will source green power through Dakota Electric’s renewable energy programmes, and design elements are aligned with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) principles.
Environmental measures also include electric vehicle charging facilities, a robust e-waste recycling programme and construction waste management initiatives to minimise landfill use.
Driving regional connectivity and growth
MSP1 is expected to play a key role in supporting the digital transformation of businesses throughout the US Midwest. The facility will bring high-quality jobs to the area through local contractor engagement and create a platform for improved connectivity, reducing latency and boosting performance for enterprises and service providers.
By providing a carrier-neutral environment, MSP1 will enable a broad range of customers to interconnect without being tied to a single network operator. This flexibility is intended to improve resilience and provide cost-efficient pathways for growing data traffic.
“MSP1 marks our bold transformation of a legacy data center site into a next-generation interconnection hub for the Midwest,” says Shelly. “It exemplifies CENTRA’s core values – driving connectivity, championing sustainability, and investing meaningfully in the communities we serve.”
Meeting demand for AI and edge computing
The data centre’s high-density deployment capabilities and robust connectivity options are designed to meet the needs of AI workloads, which demand low-latency, high-bandwidth infrastructure.
MSP1’s location near major network routes and its redundant fibre entry points are expected to attract hyperscale, enterprise, and service provider customers seeking reliable access to cloud and edge environments.
As CENTRA expands its interconnection platform nationally, MSP1 will serve as a cornerstone for its presence in the Midwest. The facility’s combination of scalable capacity, sustainable operations, and carrier neutrality is aimed at addressing the increasing data demands of the region while supporting long-term growth.