The project includes two main components located at the same site:

• A facility for federal, classified research.
• A smaller, adjacent academic facility for non-classified research, which will be used by U-M faculty, staff and students, with potential opportunities for use by other universities.

The project will be located in Ypsilanti Township on the north side of Textile Road, directly across the street from the Ford Rawsonville Components plant and adjacent to the LG Energy Solutions plant. The buildings will be located closer to Textile Road than the north property lines in order to preserve the site’s natural features and provide additional distance between South and North Hydro parks.

This area is zoned for light industrial and commercial use, and is characterized by wide roads, minimal residential density, and existing utility infrastructure. The surrounding corridor’s manufacturing operations, distribution centers, and open buffer zones make it well-suited for a research and technology facility.

The federal facility will be approximately 220,000 to 240,000 square feet. The adjacent academic facility will be approximately 50,000 square feet.

No, the federal facility is for research and high-performance computing. It will focus on scientific computation to address various national challenges, including cybersecurity, nuclear and other emerging threats, biohazards, and clean energy solutions.

This is not a commercial development. This is a research collaboration between U-M and LANL, both public entities, designed to advance scientific discovery, not commercial products, technology, or social media platforms.

High-performance computing involves solving complex problems by running sophisticated algorithms across thousands of processors (smaller computers) working together in parallel. High-performance computing, for example, allows researchers to rapidly test millions of potential drug compounds and identify promising candidates for treating diseases far more quickly than traditional laboratory methods.

Other applications include the discovery and design of new materials, calculations on climate preparedness and sustainability. Industries such as mobility, national security, aerospace, life sciences and finance can benefit from advanced modeling and simulation capabilities.

The total investment for the project is estimated at $1.25 billion. Under an agreement between LANL and U-M, the national laboratory will directly contribute $300 million. U-M will provide direct contributions of $220 million and facilitate the financing of $630 million. The state of Michigan will provide $100 million through a Strategic Site Readiness Program grant earmarked for site development, construction and other related activities necessary to construct the new research centers.

No, this will be a new high-performance computing facility that expands LANL’s current computing capabilities. LANL will retain all of its facilities and operations in New Mexico.

U-M has met with township officials and is planning further community engagement opportunities.

The partnership is anticipated to strengthen U-M’s impact and excellence in research and education, offering new capabilities and opportunities to work on tough challenges such as cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, infectious disease and clean energy solutions. The effort is a significant step in continuing to strengthen U-M’s research partnerships with the Department of Energy’s National Laboratories.

National Laboratories are U.S. Department of Energy research institutions that address major scientific and technological challenges, such as energy innovation, cybersecurity, and the development of cutting-edge scientific tools and facilities. The labs conduct large-scale, multidisciplinary research and operate unique facilities across the country.

Read more about the nation’s national laboratories.

In addition to its latest partnership with LANL, U-M maintains strong collaborative research agreements with a number of other National Laboratories, including Idaho National Laboratory, Argonne National Laboratory and Fermilab in Illinois, Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Tennessee and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Washington state.

A new DTE substation will be designed and built to fully accommodate the facility’s energy needs, and the availability of electricity to adjacent businesses and residences will not be impacted.

Sustainability and thoughtful land use are high priorities for this project. The facility will not draw from or discharge into the Huron River. All cooling water will be purchased from local municipal utilities, and sanitary discharge will also be handled through the municipal system.

Plans for site stormwater management, as well as any potential impacts to regulated wetlands on the property, are subject to review and permitting from the Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy (EGLE). The university will work closely with EGLE to ensure minimal impact and that the project meets applicable EGLE requirements. U-M will also preserve existing vegetation where it is possible.

No. Once the facility is up and running, residents should not experience any smoke, odor, significant noise, or vibrations. The buildings are designed to operate cleanly and quietly, with all-electric infrastructure and minimal emissions.

During construction, there may be temporary noise or vibration typical of large building projects. These activities will follow all relevant regulations, and U-M will work with contractors to minimize disruption to nearby properties.

The project will employ integrated design principles to ensure energy efficiency, water conservation, occupant comfort and minimal environmental impact to the project site.

In keeping with the university’s carbon neutrality goals, the project will be all-electric.

The building’s design and systems include several energy-efficient features to achieve better than 20% energy savings compared with an energy-code-compliant building, as defined by ASHRAE 90.1-2013.

This project has a minimum LEED certification goal of LEED Silver with a stretch goal of LEED Gold under LEED v4 for Data Centers.

Low-flow plumbing fixtures will reduce water consumption by 20% beyond the Michigan Plumbing Code requirements.
The project will purchase ENERGY STAR equipment.

Construction waste will be diverted from landfills whenever possible.