Meta Begins Using Mass Timber in US Data Center Buildings
As part of a growing shift toward sustainable construction, Meta has started building with mass timber at its data center campus in Aiken, South Carolina. The material is being used in administrative buildings. This marks the company’s latest move toward reducing its carbon footprint in tech infrastructure.
Expansion Across Multiple Locations
Meta plans to extend the use of mass timber in 2025 at additional sites, including:
- Cheyenne, Wyoming, in collaboration with Fortis Construction and Mercer Mass Timber
- Montgomery, Alabama, with Hensel Phelps and Binderholz leading the implementation
The company is not limiting this approach to offices only. It intends to incorporate mass timber into storage buildings and even the halls that house servers. This signals a notable shift in how data facilities are designed and built.
Emphasis on Low-Carbon Construction
Meta has previously used low-carbon concrete across several projects and aims to add near-zero-emission steel to its future developments. These efforts reflect a larger design strategy focused on reducing the environmental impact of large-scale tech buildings.
Clean Energy for AI Growth
In parallel with material innovations, Meta has secured nuclear and geothermal energy deals in Illinois and New Mexico. These deals aim to power the increasing demands of artificial intelligence development.
Global Infrastructure Expansion
This architectural transition is unfolding alongside a major global expansion. Meta recently announced:
- A $10 billion data center in Louisiana
- An $800 million project in Indiana
- The cancellation of two Danish projects to reallocate resources toward AI
- And plans for a 50,000-kilometer subsea cable linking Brazil, India, South Africa, and the US — expected to be the longest of its kind in the world
✦ ArchUp Editorial Insight
This article highlights Meta’s shift toward integrating mass timber in its data center architecture as part of a broader environmental strategy. The accompanying images reveal horizontally oriented structures with raw wood surfaces. These introduce unexpected warmth into tech-driven environments.
Still, the approach invites reflection on whether such material expression suits the infrastructural demands of data facilities. Can natural materials alone balance the tension between sustainability and performance?
Nevertheless, the adoption of low-carbon materials in highly technical projects signals a meaningful shift in design priorities. It moves toward more responsible architectural practices.
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