NorthC Group, a data center operator in Northwestern Europe, will commence construction of a new data center in Geneva, Switzerland, in the first quarter of 2026. The facility will be built on the The Hive campus, a tech park located on the outskirts of the city.
This project will be the sixth NorthC data center in Switzerland, joining its current locations in Biel (Bern), Winterthur (Zurich), and Münchenstein (Basel). It also includes the previously announced data center on the uptownBasel campus in Arlesheim (Basel), which is still under construction. The new infrastructure will feature a total IT capacity of 4.5 MW, delivered in phases of 1.5 MW, and will cover a total area of 5,400 m². Completion is scheduled for the second quarter of 2028.
The company has stated it will prioritize sustainability through innovative technologies. The data center will operate on 100% green electricity, consistent with its approach across all facilities, and will utilize a cooling system that requires no water. Additionally, backup generators will run on HVO100, a fossil-free fuel derived from renewable materials such as vegetable oils and residual fats.
Prepared for AI workloads and high-performance computing
The Geneva data center will also be designed to support emerging technologies, such as inference applications, through direct-to-chip liquid cooling (D2C). This cooling method dissipates heat from chips more efficiently than traditional approaches, making it suitable for demanding applications like Artificial Intelligence and High-Performance Computing (HPC).
NorthC Group CEO, Alexandra Schless, has noted that “Geneva is a major business and economic hub in Switzerland,” alongside the Basel and Zurich regions. She added that “the demand for digital services—and consequently data center capacity—is rapidly increasing,” making Geneva a logical location for this new development. She also highlighted that the proximity to the CERN research center offers opportunities for scientific collaboration and innovation, including AI.
Modular design and utilization of waste heat
The new facility will be built following NorthC’s standard modular design, allowing for additional modules to be added and activated as demand grows. According to the company, this model promotes more energy-efficient consumption and simplifies scalability. The data center will also feature a high-speed direct data connection with other NorthC locations in Switzerland, ensuring quick and reliable access to hosted services across regions.
Construction will be carried out by HIAG, a Swiss real estate developer with a focus on sustainability. As with most NorthC data centers, the Geneva site will be prepared for waste heat reuse: on the The Hive campus, this heat will be used to supply nearby buildings. Furthermore, the facility is being prepared for a potential future connection to the