Under construction

HydraVault (2538 S. Wabash)

Construction is under way on HydraVault (2538 S. Wabash) in Chicago, IL. The project is sized at 20 MW. 20MW two-story AI-ready data center at 2538 S. Wabash Ave in Chicago's Near South Side, on a site once slated for an esports arena. Designed by Gensler with closed-loop waterless cooling; foundation permit issued Nov 2025, general contractor Power Construction building now, early user access targeted December 2026.

20 MWPlanned capacity

chicago.urbanize.city

Project status

Announced
Permitting
Under construction
Operational

Recorded changes

Nothing recorded yet. Follow this project to hear when something changes.

Community sentiment

Should this project be built?

Do you live nearby?

What’s next

Election Day is in 10 days.

Tuesday, November 3
Election Day
Tuesday, November 3IL
Illinois Voters Weigh Data Center Referendums On November Ballot

Latest news

Nothing written about this data center yet. The latest from Cook County, IL:

Data center revenue leads to $200 gift card for town residents
chicagotribune.comOct 15, 2026
One-year ban on new data center construction in Chicago proposed
nbcchicago.comSep 23, 2026
Mayor Brandon Johnson proposes Chicago data center moratorium
chicagotribune.comSep 23, 2026

See all news

Records and documentation

Illinois state legislation

ICC Docket Nos. 25-0677/25-0679 (Consolidated) - ComEd Large Demand Project Applicant/Customer (LDPAC) TariffApprovalicc.illinois.govComEd tariff creating a formal "Large Demand Project Applicant/Customer" class for data centers/large loads ≥50MW, approved March 2026 with graduated security deposits ($1M for 50-200MW, +$500k per additional 100MW). Cites 75+ pending large-load interconnection requests totaling 28,000+MW, exceeding ComEd's all-time system peak.Download
Project Vector Annexation and Development AgreementCommunity benefits agreementfas.orgAnnexation and development agreement setting terms for the 'Project Vector' data center development in DeKalb, Illinois.Download
HB2756 - Data Center Cost-Shifting Protection ActLegislationdatacenterbans.comProtects ratepayers from cost-shifting caused by data centers.Download
SB2181 - Illinois Data Center Energy and Water Reporting ActLegislationdatacenterbans.comRequires all data centers to annually report energy and water consumption beginning January 1, 2026.Download
SB58 - Sales and Use Tax Law exemption for certified data center facilitiesLegislationdatacenterbans.comCreates sales/use tax exemptions for certified data center facilities.Download
SB57 - Large-Load Data CentersLegislationdatacenterbans.comRegulates large-load data centers.Download
HB2026 - Data center industrial zoning ordinance review requirementLegislationdatacenterbans.comRequires localities to review and amend zoning ordinances for data centers under industrial zoning rules.Download
HB1301 - Limits data center electricity cost risk and imposes moratoriumMoratoriumdatacenterbans.comLimits costs/risks associated with data center electricity use and imposes a moratorium.Download
Data Center Zoning OrdinanceOrdinancewandtv.comLogan County, Illinois zoning ordinance for data centers, approved by the board June 1, 2026.Download
SB4206 - LOC GOVT-DATA CENTERLegislationlegiscan.comIn committee May 18, 2026Description comingDownload
HB5755 - MUNI CD-DATA CENTER REFERENDUMLegislationlegiscan.comIn committee May 5, 2026Description comingDownload
SB4016 - HYPERSCALE DATA CENTERSLegislationlegiscan.comAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Karina Villa May 30, 2026Description comingDownload
SB3761 - DATA CENTERS-VARIOUSLegislationlegiscan.comIn committee May 22, 2026Description comingDownload
SB0094 - DATA CENTERS-FOREIGN OWNERSHIPLegislationlegiscan.comAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Terri Bryant Apr 3, 2025Description comingDownload
SB3830 - DATA CENTERS-VARIOUSLegislationlegiscan.comIn committee May 22, 2026Description comingDownload
SB3578 - DATA CENTERS-FOREIGN OWNERSHIPLegislationlegiscan.comAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Darby A. Hills Jul 1, 2026Description comingDownload
HB5513 - HYPERSCALE DATA CENTERSLegislationlegiscan.comAdded Co-Sponsor Rep. Suzanne M. Ness Aug 26, 2026Description comingDownload
SB4203 - DCEO-DATA CENTERSLegislationlegiscan.comAdded as Co-Sponsor Sen. Erica Harriss Jun 17, 2026Description comingDownload

Site details

Operator: HydraVault
County: Cook County, IL
Capacity: 20 MW
Address: Chicago, IL
Stage: Under construction

Size: not on file

Map

Photos

Renderingchicago.urbanize.city
RenderingRendering: Gensler (via Urbanize Chicago)
Renderingchicagoyimby.com
RenderingGensler (via Urbanize Chicago)
Renderingprnewswire.com
Google Street View
Google Street View
Google Street View
Google Street View
Google Street View
Google Street View
One-year ban on new data center construction in Chicago proposedNBC 5 Chicago
Mayor Brandon Johnson proposes Chicago data center moratoriumChicago Tribune
An $8 billion Treasury break helped Meta’s tax rate hit 2%. Senators want data center tax answersFortune
The states with the fewest and most data centers, rankedBusiness Insider
Finns Are Seething After Google Illegally Toppled 250,000 Trees for a Data CenterMother Jones
Google offer to pay others to help data center powerArkansas Online
This bill would make data centers pay their own way for powerSalt Lake City Deseret News