HOLLY RIDGE, Louisiana — Burns & McDonnell, a 100% employee-owned engineering, architecture, construction, environmental and consulting firm, has been selected to design Meta’s Richland Parish Data Center, its largest data center to date and one of the largest in the U.S. The data center will be instrumental in advancing Meta’s artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities and will deliver more than 2 gigawatts of compute capacity to train future open-source large language models (LLMs).

The project includes a multibuilding program featuring a 3-GW IT campus with a warehouse, office building, six substations and nine data center buildings. Four of the data center buildings are 396-MW facilities, making them the highest-density data centers currently being built.

“The Richland Parish Data Center is at the heart of the AI revolution,” says Christine Wood, vice president and global leader of mission critical at Burns & McDonnell. “The unprecedented infrastructure demands represent the new frontier of data center design, and our team is honored to bring the technical prowess to navigate bringing Meta’s vision to reality.”

The facility design leverages innovative approaches, including using medium-voltage trestles to reduce copper requirements by half. All electrical equipment arrives on fabricated skids with hard bus connections, reducing labor needs in the field. The complexity of this design approach supports safer installation on a shorter timeline.

The warehouse, office building and all nine data centers are designed to achieve LEED Gold certification and will incorporate low-carbon concrete to further reduce environmental impact. The warehouse will use sustainably sourced materials, including mass timber and mass ply, to reduce the project’s carbon footprint, as these engineered wood products help sequester carbon and replace more carbon-intensive materials such as steel or concrete. The data center will also feature a closed-loop water system to support efficient water use. The project will maximize water efficiency through an efficient cooling design, native and drought-resistant vegetation, rainwater capture and infiltration, and water-saving fixtures and technologies.

“Burns & McDonnell has been a vital partner to align key design and operational factors on a project of this magnitude,” says FirstName LastName, Title at Meta. “Their partnership plays a critical role in bringing advanced digital infrastructure online and successfully delivering AI technologies at this scale.”

Partnerships in the region will assist with local infrastructure improvements, including roads, water and wastewater systems, as well as public parks and historic restorations. With Louisiana utility partner Entergy, at least 1,500 MW in renewable generation sources will be added to the regional grid to match the electricity consumption of the data center. The Richland Parish site also brings economic benefits to northeast Louisiana by sourcing materials locally, hiring locally and providing community grants to schools and nonprofits. More than 5,000 skilled trade workers are expected on the jobsite at peak construction and more than 500 operational jobs will be supported by the facility once completed.

The project began construction in late 2025 and is expected to be operational by 2030.

About Burns & McDonnell

Working from more than 75 offices around the world, Burns & McDonnell designs and builds critical infrastructure. Our family of companies — driven by engineers, construction professionals, architects, planners, technologists and scientists — delivers projects grounded in safety and a desire to make a difference as we make our clients successful. Founded in 1898, Burns & McDonnell is 100% employee-owned. Learn more.

About Meta

Meta is building the future of human connection, powered by artificial intelligence and immersive technologies. When Facebook launched in 2004, it changed the way people connect. Apps like Messenger, Instagram, and WhatsApp further empowered billions around the world. Now, Meta is moving beyond 2D screens toward experiences that foster deeper connections and unlock new possibilities.