Digital Realty has broken ground on a new data center in Frankfurt, marking the latest expansion of its presence in one of Europe’s most competitive and capacity-constrained digital infrastructure markets. The new build, designated FRA20, is planned to deliver roughly 16 megawatts of IT load across more than 8,100 square meters of white space. The project will be delivered in two phases, with initial operations expected to begin in spring 2027.
FRA20 forms part of Digital Park Fechenheim, a multiphase development intended to become one of Germany’s largest interconnected data center campuses. When fully built out, the park is expected to include 11 data centers with a combined 200 megawatts of IT capacity across approximately 90,000 square meters. Five data centers, including the recently completed FRA18, are being constructed within the Eiermann Building, a heritage-listed structure now being repurposed for modern IT infrastructure.
Digital Realty’s ongoing investments would reflect both accelerating enterprise demand for colocation capacity in Frankfurt and growing requirements for AI-optimized facilities capable of supporting high-density compute clusters. Frankfurt remains a key intersection point for major cloud platforms, pan-European fiber routes and the DE-CIX internet exchange, making it a strategic location for hyperscalers, financial institutions and cloud-native enterprises.
Volker Ludwig, Senior Vice President and Managing Director for Digital Realty Central Europe, said the continued development in Frankfurt underscores the company’s commitment to building infrastructure aligned with emerging AI and machine learning workloads. He added that FRA20, together with the broader Digital Park Fechenheim expansion, is intended to provide customers with a scalable, interconnected ecosystem capable of supporting the next generation of digital services.
Advanced Cooling Technology
The new facility will incorporate advanced cooling technology and energy-efficient design practices aimed at supporting higher rack densities associated with AI workloads. FRA20 will also be matched with 100% renewable energy in line with Digital Realty’s global sustainability goals and ongoing commitments to energy transparency. As AI adoption accelerates and power-intensive compute clusters become more commonplace, operators in major European markets face increasing expectations to balance performance, sustainability and regulatory compliance.
With energy availability and land constraints becoming more prominent in Frankfurt, large-scale developments such as Digital Park Fechenheim signal long-term confidence in the region’s infrastructure ecosystem. The expansion also aligns with broader industry trends, as global data center operators push to create campuses that can support high-density AI clusters while maintaining low-latency connectivity to cloud and network providers.
Executive Insights FAQ
Why is Digital Realty expanding further in Frankfurt?
Frankfurt remains one of Europe’s most important interconnection hubs, with strong demand from hyperscalers and enterprises seeking proximity to DE-CIX, cloud platforms and financial markets.
What makes FRA20 relevant to AI workloads?
The facility is designed for high-density deployments and incorporates cooling and power architectures suitable for modern GPU-driven AI and machine learning clusters.
How large will Digital Park Fechenheim become?
Once completed, the development will host 11 interconnected data centers delivering up to 200MW of IT capacity across roughly 90,000 square meters.
How is sustainability addressed in the FRA20 design?
FRA20 will operate using 100% renewable energy and includes energy-efficient architecture to support sustainable high-density computing.
What advantages does the Eiermann Building redevelopment provide?
It allows Digital Realty to expand capacity within an architecturally significant structure while modernizing it for contemporary digital infrastructure needs.
