Data center operator Vantage is to develop a second campus in Milan, Italy.

The company this week announced plans for MXP2, expanding its footprint in Lombardy.

The €350 million ($407m) campus, located in Castelletto some 15 kilometers from central Milan, will feature two three-story data center buildings delivering a combined 32MW of critical IT capacity across approximately 10,000 square meters (108,000 square feet).

The first phase is slated to be operational in the spring of 2026.

The site, which will feature a closed-loop chilled water system and air-side economizers, will utilize CRAH units to offer densities of around 8kW per rack. Power will be provided by Duereti and Terna.

“Expanding our Italian footprint in Greater Milan marks a strategic move for Vantage. Milan’s extensive fiber network and position along major terrestrial backbones provide low-latency connectivity to key European hubs, including Zurich, Frankfurt and Munich,” said David Howson, president, EMEA at Vantage Data Centers. “The region’s expanding digital ecosystem and competitive market dynamics make it an ideal location for global hyperscale growth, and our investment in MXP2 underscores Vantage’s commitment to delivering world-class, sustainable data center solutions in this key market to enable cloud and AI technologies.”

Vantage’s 30-acre MXP1 campus, in Melegnano, totals 64MW of critical IT load across four two-story buildings and 517,00 sq ft (48,000 sqm). The site launched around 2022.

The Italian Council of Ministers said Vantage’s investment in Italy is “considered to be in the public interest as it aims to harness the potential of digital technologies, stimulate innovation and support economic growth in Europe; strengthen the country’s role in the European energy transition and digital resilience strategy; offer new skilled job opportunities and attract investment in research and development; promote innovative long-term projects capable of generating a lasting impact in the regions where they operate; improve essential infrastructure such as transport networks, energy networks and advanced connectivity services.”

Across Europe, Vantage has data centers in operation and development in London and Cardiff, UK; Berlin and Frankfurt, Germany; Warsaw, Poland; Zurich, Switzerland; Dublin, Ireland; and Aragon, Spain.

“Vantage appreciates the recognition from the Italian government to be part of the growth engine powering the next generation of technology in my country,” said Alfonso Romano, vice president, site selection and acquisition, EMEA at Vantage Data Centers. “Our investments not only enable digital transformation but also positively contribute to a growing economy, job creation, innovation, and sustainable opportunities for local communities.”

Other operators with an existing or planned presence around Milan include Data4, OVH, Echelon, Aruba, HScale, NTT, CyrusOne, Stack, Apto, Virtus, Compass, Irideos, Equinix, and others. Most of the major hyperscale players operate cloud regions out of Milan.