DC BLOX Nashville Data Center
DC BLOX Holds Productive Discussions with Nashville Zoo Board Chair and CEO
Collaborative talks organized by the Mayor’s Office address environmental and animal care concerns, and potential reductions in scale for the proposed data center.
About the Project
DC BLOX is planning a data center in Nashville to support the growing demand for digital infrastructure across Middle Tennessee.
The DC BLOX project will support Nashville’s future economic growth and represents a substantial local investment and expected tax contributions, especially compared to alternative uses of the site.
The facility will not be an AI factory placing a burden on local resources. It is designed to support local data network infrastructure to ensure Nashville is prepared to handle the rapidly increasing digitaltraffic in the region.
The DC BLOX data center site will be a low-impact, high tax revenue facility that will help bring greater access to many of the digital services we use every day. And our people-first approach fosters long-term partnerships that benefit every community we serve.
Preliminary rendering of Building One
Grassmere Business Park Project Details
Grassmere Business Park (also known as Grassmere Commons) is an industrial park that has housed office buildings since the mid-1980s. The current site contains two office buildings, both of which will be removed and replaced with two DC BLOX data center buildings. The site is zoned Industrial Warehouse District (IWD) and is permitted for data center use. A portion of an existing office building on the site is a data center.
As shown in the data center site plan above, the DC BLOX campus will include two buildings:
Building One: single story, 69,200 square feet (10 megawatts)
Building Two: 2 stories, 261,000 square feet (40 megawatts)
The project will be constructed over two phases, with the first phase of construction to begin upon project approval.
DC BLOX will build both landscape buffers and concrete walls adjacent to the Nashville Zoo. These will provide separation between the data center site and the zoo. We will contractually commit to a sound level no greater than 65 dB(A) at the property line, within the general range of ambient sound levels in the area and well below the current 85 dB(A) zoning requirement for the site. In other words, we will not add perceivable incremental sound at the property line, and sound levels reaching the zoo will be even lower.
Construction Jobs
The DC BLOX data center project will employ hundreds of workers across multiple trades at the peak of construction. DC BLOX is committed to working with local labor unions to support the development of this project.
Project Status & Timeline
Our Nashville project is currently in the evaluation phase. As plans progress, DC BLOX will share updates with the community while working with local officials and regulatory agencies.
What to Expect During & After Development
Once approved, construction would occur in two phases over approximately four years. DC BLOX will work closely with local officials and contractors to minimize disruption and maintain safe, efficient job sites. Once operational, the facility runs quietly and securely, with a small on-site team managing day-to-day operations.
Environmental Responsibility
DC BLOX designs and operates its facilities with a focus on energy efficiency and responsible resource use. DC BLOX will fully comply with air quality and environmental health and safety regulations by the Nashville Metro Health Department, as well as water discharge requirements regulated by the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC).
Our Legacy in Tennessee
DC BLOX has deep roots in Tennessee. Since opening our Chattanooga data center in 2017, we have been proud to be part of the state’s growing digital infrastructure community and to build lasting relationships with the people who call Tennessee home. Our work in Nashville is a continuation of our purpose to serve locally and connect globally. It reflects the same approach we have brought to Tennessee for years: showing up as a good neighbor and making connections that support local growth.
The Data Center Primer
What is a Data Center?
View Sheet
Size, Scale, & Function
View Sheet
Fact Sheets
Addressing Common Questions
Data centers are buildings where computer servers store, process, and deliver the information and services we rely on every day, from streaming movies to online shopping to telehealth appointments. Without data centers, modern life simply doesn’t work.
We all are. A data center is a specialized facility that houses the “brains” of digital services: computers, software, and networking equipment that store, process, and transmit data. These facilities contain servers, storage systems, and network infrastructure that power the applications and services businesses, governments, and individuals rely on every day.
The growing demand for digital services is driving the need for expanded data center capacity. All the digital tools and services people rely on such as internet browsing, online shopping, streaming services, social media, healthcare systems, emergency services, and more depend on digital infrastructure to function. Anyone who uses the internet or a smartphone relies on data centers to access these services at work, home, and school.
As demand continues to increase, communities without sufficient digital infrastructure may experience slower service performance, reduced reliability, and could face limitations in accessing new applications and technologies in the future. Continued investment in local data centers helps ensure that local businesses, public institutions, and residents have reliable access to the digital services that are essential to our daily lives.
Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, DC BLOX has a long-established presence, with data center developments in Atlanta, N. Augusta, Birmingham, Huntsville, Chattanooga, Greenville, Montgomery, Myrtle Beach, and Richmond.
We provide connected data centers, from colocation facilities in growing markets to globally connected cable landing stations to build-to-suit campuses. DC BLOX also provides integrated regional network services and dark fiber solutions to meet the connectivity requirements of modern business.
No. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee recently signed bill HB1847, also known as the Data Center Cost Responsibility Act, requiring data center operators to pay for the full cost of new or existing utility infrastructure needed to support the data center.
In addition, the bill prohibits local utilities, including NES (Nashville Electric Services) the utility servicing this location, from raising the rate charged to residential customers or other commercial or industrial customers due to increased electric demand caused by any proposed data center.
The selected site is currently zoned in an Industrial Warehouse District, and this project will be significantly less impacting than alternative businesses that could occupy it.
The generators will operate strictly within the limits of the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Nashville Metro Health Dept which regulates air quality and environmental health and safety.
Local noise restrictions will be fully adhered to and we commit to maintaining and testing noise levels to ensure compliance.
Generates both direct and indirect jobs across construction, security, facility management, and technical operations.
Attracts new regional infrastructure providers to serve the area, driving long-term employment, investment, and regional economic growth.
Significant tax revenues will support local priorities.
Places a minimal burden on community services and infrastructure enabling nearly 100% of tax contributions to support county growth.
Provides long-term partnerships to benefit the local community. We are committed to supporting organizations, initiatives, and events that create meaningful impact in the local community.
No. Data centers are simply climate-controlled computer facilities. The facilities will use no hazardous materials and generate no environmental waste. Backup diesel generators are used only during utility outages and brief monthly testing and conform to air quality standards regulated by the Nashville Metro Health Dept. While data centers emit some electromagnetic fields (EMFs), concrete construction significantly reduces emissions and levels are comparable to those found in typical office buildings.
No. Modern data centers use energy efficient air conditioning systems to keep hosted computers cool. Unlike data centers of the past, our data centers use a closed-loop water cooling system. The system is initially primed with utility water but then continuously recirculates water throughout the system without the need to replenish its supply or to expel used water into the environment. The overall water usage of our facility is similar to that of a typical commercial building.
Data centers are among the most capital-intensive forms of development compared to other industries that could occupy the Grassmere Business Park site. The proposed Nashville facility will be a significant property tax contributor in Davidson County.
In addition to direct tax contributions, the project is expected to stimulate broader economic activity, further supporting local and regional tax revenues through job creation, vendor partnerships, and increased business activity.
Our Commitment to the Community
DC BLOX is committed to being a transparent and engaged partner throughout the evaluation and development process. We will work with local stakeholders, officials, and community members to share information, answer questions, and incorporate feedback where possible.
Community Benefits
Job Creation
Data centers create jobs across multiple phases, starting with construction roles such as contractors, trades, and project management. Once operational, they support skilled positions in facility management, engineering, security, and IT. They also drive indirect employment by creating demand for local vendors, service providers, and regional infrastructure, contributing to sustained economic activity over time.
Economic Growth
Data centers generate significant tax revenue, often among the highest per square foot of any commercial development. This revenue helps fund local priorities. Their presence also attracts additional businesses and development to the area, reinforcing broader economic growth over time.
Community Partnerships
Where DC BLOX builds and operates, benefits to the community follow. We actively engage with local stakeholders to understand community priorities and collaborate on programs that support education, workforce training, and regional development. Our approach is rooted in long-term partnership, ensuring our presence contributes positively to the communities we serve.
Digital Infrastructure
DC BLOX’s Nashville development is intended as a digital infrastructure connectivity hub that will specifically help Middle Tennessee bridge the critical infrastructure gap following a massive wave of population growth over the past decade.
DC BLOX in Action
DC BLOX is committed to joining community and business leaders to support growth and collaboration where we build our data centers. Community partnerships are a cornerstone of our mission to serve locally and connect globally with the intent of building strong connections that extend beyond our data center facility into the community we serve. We are dedicated to supporting organizations, initiatives, and events that strengthen, advance education, promote innovation, and create meaningful local impact.
At DC BLOX, we live by our values: Trust, Teamwork, Transparency.
Tell Us What You Think
As we introduce this project to the Nashville community, we are committed to transparency and thoughtful engagement every step of the way. We welcome your questions, comments, and concerns. Your insights help us align the project with local priorities and deliver long-term value to the community.