NorthC Group will begin construction of a new data center in Geneva, Switzerland in Q1 of this year. The new facility will be built at The Hive campus, a technology park just outside Geneva. This will be NorthC’s sixth data center in Switzerland, in addition to its existing data centers in Biel (Bern), Winterthur (Zurich) and Münchenstein (Basel) as well as the recently announced and yet-to-be-built data center on the uptownBasel campus in Arlesheim (Basel). The total IT capacity will be 4.5 MW, delivered in phases of 1.5 MW. The data center will have a total floor area of 5,400 m², and construction is expected to be completed by Q2 2028.
NorthC will prioritize sustainability in constructing the new data center by implementing innovative technologies. The facility will use 100% green power, consistent with all NorthC data centers, and its cooling system will require no water. Backup generators will operate on HVO100, a fossil-free fuel made from renewable materials such as vegetable oils and waste fats.
Designed for AI
The new data center will also be designed to support emerging technologies, such as Inference applications, through direct-to-chip (D2C) liquid cooling, which dissipates heat from computer chips more efficiently than traditional methods. This makes the facility well suited for demanding uses such as AI and high-performance computing (HPC).
Alexandra Schless, CEO NorthC Group: “Geneva is an important commercial and economic hub in Switzerland, alongside the Basel and Zurich regions. Demand for digital services – and consequently for data center capacity – is growing rapidly. This makes Geneva a logical location for NorthC to build a new data center. The proximity to the renowned scientific research center CERN also offers new opportunities for collaboration in scientific research and innovation, including AI.”
Modular design and readiness for residual heat exchange
The new Geneva data center will be built according to NorthC’s standard blueprint design, which is based on modular construction. Additional modules can be added and activated as demand increases. This approach results in more efficient energy consumption and enables rapid scaling. The data center will also have a direct, high-speed data connection to NorthC’s other locations in Switzerland, providing customers in one region with fast and reliable access to services running at other locations.
Construction, by HIAG, a major Swiss real estate developer, ensures that the Geneva data center is designed with sustainability at its core. Like almost all NorthC data centers, the Geneva facility will be prepared to support the exchange of residual heat. At The Hive campus, where the data center is being built, this heat will be used to supply nearby buildings. The facility is also being prepared for a potential future connection to the district heating network operated by the local energy company.
