CyrusOne Austin Campus (MetCenter)
Proposed size
100 MW
Site area
100 ac
Building area
460,000 sq ft
Cooling
Evaporative cooling towers
Developer
CyrusOne
CyrusOne operates two colocation data centers at the MetCenter business park in Austin (Travis County): AUS2 at 7301 Metropolis Drive (9 MW, 70,000 sq ft) and AUS3 at 7100 Metropolis Drive (120,000 sq ft colocation). CyrusOne has publicly announced plans to expand the Austin campus with at least three additional buildings (17, 17B, 17C), with initial fit-outs targeted for October 2026 and August 2027.
Water Impact
Daily water use (estimated range)
900K – 1.3M gal/day
Water returned per day
None reported
Per Estimated from ~100 MW total campus capacity using LBNL benchmark 9,000–13,000 gal/day/MW. Evaporative cooling towers confirmed from facility specifications., based on Campus includes AUS2 (9 MW, 70,000 sf) and AUS3 (120,000 sf). Expansion buildings 17/17B/17C not yet sized publicly.
vs. 5M gal/day (typical 400 MW facility)
The higher estimate is equivalent to the daily water use of approximately 13,000 households. San Marcos has approximately 25,000 households.
- Water intake
- 900K – 1.3M gal/day
- Lost to evaporation
- 100%
- Returned to system
- 0% (None reported)
Direct water figures are estimates from permit applications and developer disclosures. Indirect (power generation) figures are calculated estimates. Actual water use depends on technology choices, operating capacity, and weather conditions.
Location
Address: 7301 Metropolis Drive, Austin, Travis County, TX
Water source: City of Austin Water
Infrastructure
- Water provider
- City of Austin Water
- Power provider
- Austin Energy
Coming online — watch for expansion applications and compliance
Expansion applications go through the same permit process as the original project. If actual water use already exceeds permitted projections, that's a documented basis for opposing an expansion — or renegotiating conditions.
Timeline
April 10, 2026
Inside Climate News covers Texas data center water demands amid statewide drought
Inside Climate News published "Texas Data Center Developers Play Offense on Water, Claiming Huge Cuts in Usage" on April 10, 2026, covering Texas legislative hearings on data center energy and water demands. The article noted 85% of Texas was under drought conditions and cited PUC chairman Thomas Gleeson's call for a "clear picture" of data center water use.
Source →(opens in new tab)April 24, 2025
Austin City Council adopts resolution directing data center environmental and water study
Austin City Council adopted Resolution 55 on April 24, 2025, directing city staff to partner with Austin Energy and Austin Water on a regional environmental study of data center energy and water impacts over the next decade. The resolution requires an initial report by October 2025 and annual follow-up reports, directly affecting CyrusOne and other operators in the Austin metro.
Source →(opens in new tab)April 2, 2015
CyrusOne acquires powered shell for AUS3, its third and largest Austin data center
CyrusOne announced on April 2, 2015 the purchase of a ~175,000 sq ft powered shell at Austin's Met Center (7100 Metropolis Drive) to establish AUS3. Phase 1 was planned at 60,000 sq ft with 6 MW of critical load; full build-out targets 120,000 sq ft of colocation space and up to 24 MW of power.
Source →(opens in new tab)January 7, 2014
CyrusOne acquires 22 acres at Austin Met Center for data center expansion
CyrusOne announced on January 7, 2014 the acquisition of 22 acres at the MetCenter business park in Austin. The purchase was part of a broader Texas strategy bringing total Texas holdings to over 100 acres across four markets, and paved the way for CyrusOne's third Austin data center (AUS3, 7100 Metropolis Drive).
Source →(opens in new tab)
Documents
Sources
- 1. CyrusOne Austin – AUS2/AUS3 — CyrusOne, 2025-01-01. Link →(opens in new tab)
- 2. CyrusOne Expanding its Austin Data Center Campus — Data Center Knowledge, 2025-01-01. Link →(opens in new tab)
Community Notes
MetCenter is in Austin proper (Travis County). CyrusOne uses evaporative cooling towers. The expansion adding buildings 17/17B/17C will incrementally increase water draw on City of Austin Water without a public review process beyond normal development permitting.