Global AI Plans Major Data Center Outside Denver

Industry Insights from Next Move Strategy Consulting

Global AI, a data center firm partnered with Saudi AI company Humain, has announced plans to develop a large-scale data center outside Denver, Colorado. The project signals a significant step in expanding AI-focused infrastructure in the United States.

Transforming a Historic Industrial Site

Global AI acquired three parcels totaling 438 acres near Windsor in Weld County last year, including former industrial buildings that once formed part of the Eastman Kodak campus. The total purchase, completed in late November, amounted to $15.6 million. One of the two existing buildings will be redeveloped as the first phase of an 18-24MW data center later this year. Plans call for future expansion to 50-60MW initially, with a long-term potential of up to 1GW. Weld County Planning Director David Eisenbraun noted, “They’re building all that’s available to the grid for Poudre Valley [Rural Electric Association] and exploring additional on-site technologies to meet future energy demand.” The site, located at 2000 Howard Smith Avenue West, is situated within a heavily industrialized area with existing power infrastructure from both Xcel Energy and Poudre Valley.

Investment Scale and Infrastructure Ambitions

Depending on the final scope of development, the investment could range between $2 billion and $20 billion. Achieving the site’s full 1GW potential will require additional transmission or generation capacity. Global AI’s approach emphasizes phased growth, enabling the company to scale operations in line with both power availability and AI computing demand.

Leveraging Proven AI and Data Center Expertise

Global AI currently operates a 32MW facility in Endicott, New York, hosting the largest cluster of Nvidia GB300s in the state. Both co-founders of the firm have strong ties to IBM: John E. Kelly III, co-founder, was instrumental in creating IBM Watson, while CEO Sami Issa previously founded cloud and blockchain joint ventures involving IBM and AMD. These backgrounds reinforce Global AI’s expertise in managing advanced computing infrastructure. The partnership with Saudi AI company Humain, announced last year, aims to deploy AI-focused computing across Global AI’s facilities, further emphasizing large-scale AI data center development in the United States.

Next Move Strategy Consulting’s Viewpoint

According to the Next Move Strategy Consulting’s view, notes that Global AI’s Colorado expansion exemplifies a broader trend of repurposing legacy industrial sites for AI-driven infrastructure. By combining historical industrial locations with state-of-the-art Data Center Market technology, the company is positioning itself to meet growing AI computational needs while leveraging existing grid and property assets. Raeda Al Sarayreh, spokesperson for Global AI, emphasized that the company continues to evaluate multiple sites across the U.S., stating: “No final decisions have been made regarding future development or expansion locations.”

Redefining Data Center Development

With its first phase planned for later this year, Global AI’s initiative near Denver underscores the strategic importance of scalable, high-capacity AI data centers. The project reflects a deliberate, phased approach to large-scale infrastructure, combining historic industrial assets with cutting-edge AI technology to meet the rapidly growing demands of modern computing.

Source: Data Center Dynamics

Prepared by: Next Move Strategy Consulting