Stafford County Emerges as New Data Center Hub with Peterson’s 3.8M Sq Ft Campus

Major Data Center Development Proposed in Virginia

Peterson Companies, a prominent US real estate developer, has initiated plans for a substantial data center campus in Stafford County, Virginia. The project, known internally as Project Sisson, represents a significant expansion of data center infrastructure in a region increasingly attractive to technology investments.

Major Data Center Development Proposed in Virginia
Project Specifications and Infrastructure
Strategic Location Selection
Environmental Considerations and Alternatives
Stafford County’s Growing Data Center Profile
Peterson’s Expanding Data Center Portfolio

Through affiliate Real Estate Pursuits 2 LC, Peterson has submitted permit applications to the US Army Corps of Engineers Norfolk District for the development, which would occupy land along the Rappahannock River near Kings Highway and Albion Lane. The application specifically addresses potential impacts to wetlands and waterways in the project area.

Project Specifications and Infrastructure

The proposed campus would feature 16 two-story data center buildings totaling approximately 3.8 million square feet, supported by four electrical substations. The scale positions Stafford County as an emerging competitor in the Northern Virginia data center market, which currently handles an estimated 70% of global internet traffic.

Water sourcing represents a key innovation in the project’s design. The development plans to utilize treated water from the Little Falls Wastewater Treatment Plant, located less than two miles from the site. This approach demonstrates increasing industry attention to sustainable water management practices in data center operations.

Strategic Location Selection

According to application documents, the site was selected specifically for its proximity to existing data center infrastructure and utility capabilities. Stafford County offers strategic advantages including available land, supportive local policies, and connectivity to the massive data ecosystem of Northern Virginia.

Adam Cook, Peterson’s managing director for development, previously indicated the company’s existing landbank in Stafford County combined with the area’s utility infrastructure made it appealing for data center development. The county has recently implemented tax incentives for data center equipment, further enhancing its attractiveness to developers., as comprehensive coverage

Environmental Considerations and Alternatives

The development would impact approximately four acres of wetlands and open water, prompting the requirement for federal permitting. The application reveals that Peterson evaluated multiple potential sites, including:

A “Ren Fair” site north of King’s Highway capable of supporting 13 buildings but affecting more wetlands
A Blaisdell Site further north that could accommodate 14 buildings but would impact more streams and reside closer to residential areas

The selected location ultimately presented the optimal balance of development potential and environmental considerations while maintaining proximity to necessary infrastructure.

Stafford County’s Growing Data Center Profile

While not traditionally known as a data center hub, Stafford County is rapidly emerging as a strategic alternative to more developed Northern Virginia markets. The county’s position south of Prince William County and southeast of Fauquier County places it within the broader Washington DC metro data corridor.

Peterson’s proposal follows other significant developments in the area, including Amazon’s planned campus and the previously announced Stafford Technology Campus, which Stack Infrastructure has since acquired. This concentration of projects suggests Stafford County is poised for substantial growth in technology infrastructure investment.

Peterson’s Expanding Data Center Portfolio

Founded in 1965, Peterson Companies has historically focused on office, retail, and residential properties but is increasingly active in the data center sector. The company has previously partnered with Stack Infrastructure on projects in Prince William County and is pursuing additional developments in Culpeper and Loudoun counties.

This strategic pivot toward technology infrastructure reflects broader market trends as traditional real estate developers recognize the growth potential in data center development, particularly in Virginia’s established technology corridors.

As global internet traffic continues to expand, developments like Project Sisson represent the ongoing geographical spread of data infrastructure beyond traditional core markets into adjacent regions offering available land, utility capacity, and supportive regulatory environments.