Amazon Data Center To Open In Bucks Co. As Part Of $20B Investment

FALLS TOWNSHIP, PA — The high-tech campus announced by Amazon on Monday — one of two planned so far in the state — will be located in the Keystone Trade Center in Falls Township, officials said.

Amazon is planning to spend at least $20 billion to set up the high-tech cloud computing and artificial intelligence innovation campuses in Pennsylvania.

The deal, announced Monday by Gov. Josh Shapiro, is expected to create at least 1,250 jobs. The other campus will be located in Salem Township, Luzerne County. Other communities will be identified later, officials said.

The new high-skilled jobs will range from data center engineers and network specialists, to engineering operations managers, security specialists, and many more technical roles, according to Amazon.

“Falls Township is thrilled to be at the forefront of this exciting engine of innovation—powering and
strengthening artificial intelligence globally,” Falls Township Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff Dence said. “The creation of so many high-skilled career opportunities puts Falls Township and Bucks County in a robust position for further economic development opportunities.”

NorthPoint Development revised plans in March for the 247-acre property from a distribution center to a massive data center at the former U.S. Steel property.

Falls Township Supervisors had previously approved land development for the parcels. At the time, NorthPoint was planning to construct a 1 million-square-foot distribution center for its sixth building, located at 1 Ben Fairless Drive, and more than 3 million square feet of warehousing at 700 S. Port Road for Phase 2 of the multi-tiered project.

Under the revised land development plans, Building Six of the NorthPoint project would be modified to become a data center.

The four different distribution centers that had been eyed for the 247-acre parcel have shifted to 10 different structures ranging from 112,000 square feet to 217,000 square feet, totaling more than 2 million square feet of a “digital infrastructure campus,” according to NorthPoint attorney Mike Meginniss. Buildings will be one or two stories tall, he said.

Falls Township Supervisors began reviewing plans for various tiers of the extensive NorthPoint Development project in 2020.

In all, NorthPoint intends to build 20 or more state-of-the-art industrial warehouse buildings, distribution centers and data centers totaling 10 million square feet, with the potential of 15 million square feet.

Officials have said that once complete, the redevelopment will create as many as 14,000 new jobs.

“Falls Township is committed to seeing the former U.S. Steel property restored to its heyday as a major employer in the community,” Dence said. “This commitment from Amazon positions the township well for an influx of high-paying jobs.”

NorthPoint Development will invest $1.5 billion in the transformation of the site. In all, NorthPoint will spend an estimated $40 million to $45 million to remediate the site.

According to Shapiro's office, since 2010, Amazon has invested more than $26 billion in Pennsylvania, including infrastructure and compensation to employees. The current Amazon footprint in the state includes 23 fulfillment and sortation centers and 20 last-mile delivery stations.

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