CyrusOne breaks ground on first Italian data centre

CyrusOne has broken ground on its first data centre in Italy, in Segrate near Milan.

The facility, known as MIL1, is the first of two developments planned for the city. It will provide 27MW of IT capacity across 7,000 square metres of technical space in a three-storey building, with three 9MW data halls.

The project gives CyrusOne its first physical foothold in the Italian market as it expands its European estate. Headquartered in Dallas, the company operates more than 60 data centres across the US, Europe and Japan.

Andreas Paduch, Managing Director, Europe at CyrusOne, said Milan was becoming an increasingly important digital infrastructure market for Southern Europe.

"Milan is an increasingly important digital infrastructure market for Southern Europe, and this development marks a key milestone in our European growth strategy," Paduch said. "With MIL1, we are establishing a strong platform in Milan to support our customers' long-term capacity and connectivity needs. This project is only possible through close collaboration with our partners, including the Municipality of Segrate and our wider delivery ecosystem, whose support and expertise are critical to bringing this development to fruition."

Local works

Alongside the data centre build, CyrusOne will invest more than €6 million in local infrastructure works in Segrate. Plans include the redevelopment of Via delle Regioni into an urban boulevard, with links to nearby schools, the library and other public buildings.

The scheme also includes new pedestrian areas and cycle paths, as well as a new east-west road connecting Via delle Regioni and Via Piaggio. The road and related paths are intended to improve traffic flow and reduce congestion on surrounding streets, including routes used by pupils and families.

CyrusOne has also transferred the Golfo Agricolo, a biodiverse parkland area, to the Municipality of Segrate for community use. Additional landscaping and roadworks are planned around the MIL1 site.

Construction is expected to employ up to 300 workers at peak activity. Once operational, the facility is expected to support 25 full-time roles, with local recruitment and regional suppliers identified as priorities.

Paolo Micheli, Mayor of the Municipality of Segrate, linked the development to a wider regeneration effort in the area.

"The start of construction on the CyrusOne data center marks a significant step in the development of Segrate and strengthens our city's role as a leading hub for innovation and digital infrastructure," Micheli said. "An investment of this magnitude enhances the area, as it finally allows for the regeneration of a vast, problematic industrial area that has been abandoned for decades, replacing it with a prestigious project with a lower environmental impact than previously considered alternatives."

"This project is further enhanced by significant commitments from the company, such as the installation of photovoltaic panels on local public school buildings to support our broader sustainability goals in the region, and the acquisition of the Golfo Agricolo as a public park, an area of approximately 700,000 square meters, which will now remain permanently free from development and available for the community to enjoy for years to come. We warmly welcome this investment and look forward to a long and prosperous partnership that benefits both the community and the region," he added.

Site plans

MIL1 will run on 100% renewable energy, in line with CyrusOne's European portfolio. It is also targeting a BREEAM Very Good rating for environmental performance.

The design includes a system to recover and reuse waste heat for ancillary spaces on site. The installation could also support a district heating network if one becomes available.

Landscaping plans include more than 15,000 plants and 170 trees. These measures are intended to support biodiversity, including pollinators and birdlife.

The development is being built on the site of a former industrial research facility. All demolition waste from the site was diverted from landfill, with wood, plastics and concrete recycled or reused.

About 60% of that material has been repurposed on site, while the remainder has been used in other projects in Milan. Most of the 100,000 tonnes of excavated soil is also being reused on site.

The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by city officials, project partners and other stakeholders, including Gianluca Comazzi, Councillor for the Territory and Green Systems for the Lombardy Region.