Digital Realty breaks ground on fourth data center in Zurich, Switzerland

Digital Realty has broken ground on a new data center in Glattbrugg, Switzerland, marking the latest phase of expansion for its Zurich campus. The facility, designated ZUR4, will deliver 15MW of IT capacity across approximately 6,300 square meters (67,810 square feet) of space and is slated to become operational in 2028.

The project, initially announced in 2023, will extend the company's existing campus in Glattbrugg, which currently houses three live data centers—ZUR1, ZUR2, and ZUR3. Digital Realty said ZUR4 is designed to support high-density deployments and AI workloads, incorporating state-of-the-art cooling systems to meet the demands of next-generation computing infrastructure.

The expansion comes as the Zurich region cements its position as a key digital hub in Europe, with enterprise demand for colocation space and cloud connectivity continuing to rise. Digital Realty's three existing Swiss data centers collectively offer around 25,000 square meters (269,100 square feet) of colocation space and approximately 45MW of capacity. ZUR1, in operation since 2000 and upgraded several times, provides 5MW across 7,400 square meters (79,800 square feet). Construction on ZUR2 began in 2019 and the facility launched around 2020. ZUR3, announced in 2020 via Digital Realty's Interxion brand, has come online in phases; at full build-out it will span 11,000 square meters (118,500 square feet) and deliver 24MW of capacity.

Yves Zischek, managing director of Digital Realty in Austria and Switzerland, highlighted the strategic importance of the new facility. "With ZUR4 and the continued expansion of our campus in Glattbrugg, we are creating a future-proof ecosystem that connects more than 200 customers on-site and more than 6,000 customers worldwide," he said.

Local officials also welcomed the investment as a boost to the regional economy. Barbara Franzen, a member of the Cantonal Council for the FDP in the Canton of Zurich, noted that the project underscores the growing role of digital infrastructure in the area's economic fabric. "The expansion of ZUR4 vividly demonstrates how much digital infrastructure has become the backbone of the Canton of Zurich's economy. Investments like this not only secure jobs and innovative capacity, but also strengthen our digital self-determination as a location," she added.

Industry observers see the move as part of a broader trend among major colocation providers to expand capacity in European hubs where land and power availability remain constrained. By building out its Glattbrugg campus, Digital Realty is positioning itself to capture sustained demand from enterprises and cloud providers seeking low-latency connectivity within Switzerland and the wider European market.