Chi. Continues to Gain Data Center Users

CHICAGO—Fiber optic networks converge on the Chicago metropolitan area in the same way that highways, railroads and air routes do, and that means the city and its suburbs could reap huge benefits in the near future as the need for powerful data centers fed by the networks keeps growing.

“Chicago continues to be a very desirable market,” Ascent chief executive officer Phil Horstmann tells GlobeSt.com. And, as reported in GlobeSt.com, Ascent, one of the nation’s largest providers of data center solutions, proved that again by recently securing TransUnion as a tenant for its newest suite at the CH2 Data Center Facility in suburban Northlake. Earlier this year, Ascent sold the facility to Carter Validus Mission Critical REIT, Inc. for $211.7 million, but continues to operate and manage all development, design, construction and engineering.