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Apple to Build $2B 'Global Command Center' in Former GT Advanced Plant

Monday February 2, 2015 11:29 am PST by Juli Clover

Apple plans to take over the Mesa, Arizona factory where GT Advanced was formerly producing sapphire boules, transforming the facility into a massive $2 billion data center, reports CNBC. The data center will reportedly act as a "command center" for Apple's global data network.

gtadvancedlocation

According to Arizona Governor Doug Ducey, the center will house 150 full-time Apple employees and its construction at the 1.3 million square foot facility will create 300 to 500 additional jobs.

BIG NEWS: #Apple making $2 billion investment in our state. First #SB49, now this. Arizona is open for business! http://t.co/pPunvL7Wjf.
— Doug Ducey (@dougducey) February 2, 2015

In a statement, Apple called the investment one of the largest it had ever made and pledged that the facility would run on 100 percent renewable energy like the company's other data centers.

"This multibillion-dollar project is one of the largest investments we've ever made, and when completed it will add over 600 engineering and construction jobs to the more than one million jobs Apple has already created in the U.S. Like all Apple data centers, it will be powered by 100 percent renewable energy, much of which will come from a new local solar farm," Apple said in a statement on the project.

After GT Advanced filed for bankruptcy and abandoned the Mesa, Arizona plant, there were questions about what Apple would do with the facility. GT Advanced's closure caused a massive loss of jobs in Mesa, but Apple pledged to find a way to repurpose the location and preserve jobs in the city.

Image courtesy of AZCentral

Tag: data center

Top Rated Comments

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JoEw

62 months ago

Since October when a federal judge struck down Arizona's gay marriage ban, I think companies like Apple are more likely to feel comfortable doing business in this otherwise conservative state.

Ha! money isn't conservative or liberal...

Rating: 43 Votes

rei101

62 months ago

I hope the original owners of GT Advanced get prosecuted. They are scammers.

Rating: 24 Votes

Rogifan

62 months ago

Since October when a federal judge struck down Arizona's gay marriage ban, I think companies like Apple are more likely to feel comfortable doing business in this otherwise conservative state.

So should Apple not do business in states or countries that don't jive with Tim Cook's personal political views? I'm sure there are places less friendly to gays than Arizona that Apple does business in.

Rating: 18 Votes

Macsterguy

62 months ago

Currently...

Currently the global command center is in Tim Cooks Apple Watch

Rating: 16 Votes

Tanegashima

62 months ago

Looks like Arizona got Apple Care protection plan...

Rating: 14 Votes

jtmarine73

62 months ago

Ask China how they feel about Gay marriage. This statement (the original one) was moronic. Companies don't care about the politics of the state, unless those politics are costing them more in taxes.

Rating: 12 Votes

macintologist

62 months ago

Since October when a federal judge struck down Arizona's gay marriage ban, I think companies like Apple are more likely to feel comfortable doing business in this otherwise conservative state.

Rating: 11 Votes

Macboy Pro

62 months ago

Heck, why not stop doing business with anyone that doesn't agree with his liberal views? Oh, that would alienate half of his customers. :-)

Rating: 10 Votes