HydraVault AI data center (2538 S. Wabash Ave., Chicago)
HydraVault is building a 20-megawatt AI data center on South Wabash Avenue near the South Loop. The company says it uses waterless closed-loop cooling and expects first users in December 2026.
Where things stand: Got its construction permit in Oct. 2025. First users expected in Dec. 2026.
🕒 Latest update (Oct 28, 2025): HydraVault said it got a construction permit and began work.
What we know
- 📍 Where2538 S. Wabash Ave., near the 350 E. Cermak internet hub, Chicago, Cook County
- 🏢 CompanyHydraVault
- ⚡ Power it needs20 megawatts (about as much as 16,000 homes)
- ❄️ Coolingclosed-loop waterless cooling (company claim)
❓ Still unanswered
Nobody has answered these in public yet. Can you help find out?
- Will it have diesel backup generators, and how many? 🙋 I'll find out
What happened so far
- Oct 28, 2025HydraVault said it got a construction permit and began work.
Local votes and rules
📌 Other
Mayor signed Executive Order 2026-5. It adds a review of power, water, backup generators, air pollution and noise for new data centers, and asks the city council to pass a temporary pause. Air and noise rules are due about November 9, 2026; a task force reports by March 15, 2027.
An aerial photo of the area.
Where this comes from
- HydraVault secures construction permit for downtown Chicago's first purpose-built AI facility · HydraVault (PR Newswire) · Oct 28, 2025
- Data centers are popping up all over Chicago · Block Club Chicago · Aug 12, 2026
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