CyrusOne has officially broken ground on its first data center in Italy. The MIL1 facility, the first of two new CyrusOne data centers planned for Milan, will deliver 27 megawatts of IT capacity to 7,000 square meters of world-class technical space within a three-storey building, comprised of three 9-megawatt data halls.
"Milan is an increasingly important digital infrastructure market for Southern Europe, and this development marks a key milestone in our European growth strategy,” said Andreas Paduch, Managing Director, Europe at CyrusOne. “With MIL1, we are establishing a strong platform in Milan to support our customers’ long-term capacity and connectivity needs. This project is only possible through close collaboration with our partners, including the Municipality of Segrate and our wider delivery ecosystem, whose support and expertise are critical to bringing this development to fruition.”
Community Collaboration and Contribution
CyrusOne is working closely with the Municipality of Segrate to deliver lasting benefits for the community. As part of that commitment, CyrusOne is investing over €6 million in local infrastructure improvements. This includes the redevelopment of Via delle Regioni which will be transformed into a modern urban boulevard with enhanced connections to nearby schools, the library, and other public buildings. This design prioritizes new pedestrian-only spaces and cycle paths, improving safety for students and families while supporting local shops and markets. Furthermore, the construction of a new east–west road, plus a dedicated cycle track and pathway, linking Via delle Regioni and Via Piaggio, will manage traffic flow and reduce congestion, particularly for streets connecting nearby schools, further enhancing safety.
CyrusOne has gifted the Golfo Agricolo, a significant biodiverse parkland, to the Municipality of Segrate for community use, alongside the new landscaping and roadworks around the MIL1 site.
With the development project now underway, the construction of MIL1 will bring direct economic and employment benefits to the community, employing up to 300 workers on site at peak construction and 25 full time employees when the data center is fully operational, with a prioritization on local recruitment and regional suppliers.
“The start of construction on the CyrusOne data center marks a significant step in the development of Segrate and strengthens our city's role as a leading hub for innovation and digital infrastructure,” said Paolo Micheli, Mayor of the Municipality of Segrate. “An investment of this magnitude enhances the area, as it finally allows for the regeneration of a vast, problematic industrial area that has been abandoned for decades, replacing it with a prestigious project with a lower environmental impact than previously considered alternatives.”
“This project is further enhanced by significant commitments from the company, such as the installation of photovoltaic panels on local public school buildings to support our broader sustainability goals in the region, and the acquisition of the Golfo Agricolo as a public park, an area of approximately 700,000 square meters, which will now remain permanently free from development and available for the community to enjoy for years to come. We warmly welcome this investment and look forward to a long and prosperous partnership that benefits both the community and the region.”
Sustainability and Site Regeneration
This project is built around a commitment to sustainability. The new data center will run on 100% renewable energy, in line with CyrusOne’s European portfolio, and the company is targeting a prestigious BREEAM ‘Very Good’ rating for independently certified environmental performance. MIL1 is designed to recover and reuse waste heat, initially for use within ancillary spaces on site, with the potential to supply a district heating network if available. As part of the development, more than 15,000 plants and 170 trees will be planted supporting biodiversity for pollinators and birdlife.
The project also regenerated a site that was formerly a historical industrial research facility, ensuring that all demolition waste was diverted from landfill, with materials such as wood, plastics, and concrete recycled or reused. Approximately 60% of this material has been repurposed directly on-site, with the remainder used across other projects in Milan. Most of the 100,000 tonnes of excavated soil is reused onsite, with this circular approach helping to minimize waste and environmental impact while supporting the site’s regeneration.
The groundbreaking ceremony attracted a prestigious group of city officials, project partners and stakeholders, including Paolo Micheli, Mayor of Segrate and Gianluca Comazzi, Councillor for the Territory and Green Systems for the Lombardy Region.
