Impervious Houston Data Center Set for Expansion

A Houston data center, which happens to be in a one-time nuclear bomb shelter, may soon expand its operation by 78,000 square feet.

Data Journey, which acquired the Westland Bunker last year, plans to expand its site in Montgomery. The Houston Business Journal reports the Westland Bunker expansion is estimated to cost $25 million.

Locations, like bomb shelters, are looked upon favorably by data center developers due to their ability to withstand natural disasters. Tornadoes, floods, and hurricanes all put data centers at risk. Hurricane Beryl knocked out power for millions of Houstonians, but did not damage the Westland Bunker, which has been operating uninterrupted for approximately 20 years and can accommodate an additional 45 megawatts of computing power for tenants.

According to CBRE, data center vacancy in the Houston area hit its lowest point since 2018 last year, with a vacancy rate of 14%.