Jacobs has been appointed to provide Engineering, Procurement and Construction Management (EPCM) services for Hut 8’s River Bend data center in Louisiana. This project, significant in scale, involves a 15-year lease valued at approximately $7.0 billion for 245 megawatts of IT capacity. The River Bend facility is a cornerstone of a larger campus that aims to become one of North America’s leading hubs for artificial intelligence (AI) and high-performance computing.
The selection of Jacobs, a company listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker J, reflects a shared vision between the two organizations for advancing high-performance computing infrastructure. Hut 8, an energy infrastructure platform traded on NASDAQ as HUT, is focusing on establishing a robust framework for AI development, leveraging the region’s strong utility infrastructure known for its reliability and efficiency.
Jacobs’ Chair and CEO, Bob Pragada, emphasized the company’s extensive experience in delivering complex infrastructure projects. “Jacobs brings decades of excellence, delivering complex advanced facilities and critical infrastructure for some of the world’s largest data center, semiconductor, and life sciences clients,” he stated. Pragada highlighted that the partnership with Hut 8 aims to set new benchmarks for AI infrastructure, prioritizing safety, quality, and disciplined project delivery.
Hut 8’s CEO, Asher Genoot, echoed these sentiments, stressing the importance of execution discipline for a project of this magnitude. “We believe Jacobs brings the experience and rigor required to deliver complex infrastructure on schedule and to the highest standards of quality and safety,” Genoot remarked. This collaboration is designed to mitigate risks and develop a repeatable execution model as Hut 8 expands its development pipeline.
The first data hall at the River Bend facility is slated for completion and commissioning in Q1 2027, with additional halls expected to become operational throughout the remainder of that year. This timeline emphasizes the rapid pace at which Hut 8 is aiming to position itself within the competitive AI and high-performance computing sectors.
Jacobs has a proven track record in high-value, advanced manufacturing for data centers, semiconductors, and life sciences. Recent projects include a $3.2 billion end-to-end cell culture facility, the largest of its type in North America. The River Bend project adds to Jacobs’ growing portfolio, which includes EPCM services for a confidential high-performance computing facility in the Southeastern United States and quantum computing initiatives for PsiQuantum in both Chicago and Brisbane.
Moreover, Jacobs is also contributing to sustainability in the tech sector. At the Start Campus’s SINES DC Campus in Portugal, the company is working on a 1.2-gigawatt AI-scale data center powered entirely by renewable energy and utilizing a zero-water cooling system. This commitment underscores Jacobs’ capability to support the next generation of sustainable, high-density computing environments.
With annual revenues approximating $12 billion and a workforce of nearly 43,000, Jacobs offers comprehensive services across various sectors, including advanced manufacturing, energy, transportation, and environmental management. The firm aims to foster a more connected and sustainable world by delivering innovative solutions to complex global challenges.
As Jacobs embarks on this significant partnership with Hut 8, the focus remains on creating advanced infrastructure that meets the demands of an evolving technological landscape. This strategic collaboration is expected to redefine standards in the AI sector while driving economic growth and innovation in the region.
