Meta is building AI data centers in tents in Ohio

In short: Meta is putting AI computers in large tents near New Albany, Ohio to build data center space faster.

What happened

Meta has built six large tents, described as “rapid deployment structures,” outside of New Albany, Ohio, according to Michael Thomas, founder of Cleanview, a group that tracks data center construction. Data centers are buildings full of computers that power online services and AI (think of them like giant server rooms).

Thomas said local permits show Meta began building five tents between April and June 2026. Each tent is listed at about 125,000 square feet. Satellite images shared by Thomas indicate the structures are already up.

The idea is not completely new. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg previously said the company planned to use weatherproof tents to house parts of its very large data center projects.

The approach resembles a tactic Tesla used when it put a temporary production line in a tent at its Fremont factory to speed up Model 3 manufacturing. The Ohio site is also reported to have nearby modular gas turbines providing about 200 megawatts of power. Gas turbines are machines that burn fuel to generate electricity, like a very large portable power plant.

Why it matters

AI systems need huge amounts of computing power, and building traditional data centers can take a long time and cost a lot. Meta has said it could spend up to $145 billion on data centers and other big investments. Using tents could help the company add space faster and possibly spend less, even if it raises questions about long-term reliability, energy use, and local impact.

Source: TechCrunch AI