A responsible data center in Swatara Township
Sited and constructed responsibly, data centers should serve as the foundation for economic activity and opportunity for the future. Corscale has identified approximately 228 acres on South Harrisburg Street in Swatara Township, the site of the Dauphin Highlands Golf Course, which is closing. Corscale is building Highlands West responsibly, and in line with the Governor’s GRID standards.
Latest Progress
Site Filings
Status TBD
Community Meetings
Oct 8, 2026
Preliminary Site Work
Not started
Construction
Not started
Operations
Not started
About Highlands West
Swatara Township’s proximity to Harrisburg, major transportation routes and established infrastructure makes it an important economic center in Central Pennsylvania. The Dauphin Highlands Golf Course is closing, and the 228-acre property will be redeveloped. The property’s size, its location near other industrial development and its existing infrastructure make it well suited for a data center campus.
The Highlands West site already contains high-voltage transmission infrastructure and sits alongside a working quarry and other commercial and industrial development. Its rolling terrain also provides opportunities to use setbacks, berms, landscaping and existing vegetation to reduce views from surrounding properties. Highlands West builds on those advantages while putting significant new investment on a property already designated by the County for redevelopment.
Corscale recognizes that the property has long provided open space and mature tree cover for the surrounding community. As plans advance, the project will be designed with attention to setbacks, buffers, landscaping, screening, and preservation of existing trees where feasible. For Corscale, selecting the right site means finding a location that has the infrastructure a data center requires while providing the space and flexibility to design responsibly around the surrounding community. Highlands West offers both. Highlands West is one of two proposed Corscale campuses in Swatara Township, alongside Highlands East, and together they will be among Corscale’s flagship developments, designed to fit within the landscape of Central Pennsylvania’s historic economic heartland.
- The what
Once completed, Highlands West will encompass approximately 1.23 million square feet over three buildings with 979 MWs of available power.
The campus offers many energy-efficient features including advanced cooling techniques, energy tracking, water conservation, limited generator footprint and ultra-low power usage.
- The where
Highlands West is in Swatara Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.
Corscale is actively working with local officials to incorporate important site considerations including landscaping, stormwater management, environmental impact, utilities, traffic, noise and construction planning.
- Ratepayer protections
Highlands West will be cost neutral for residents.
Corscale will fund all of the power infrastructure necessary to serve our facility, commit to long-term service agreements, maintain minimum billing obligations, and provide financial security to ensure that our project – not local residents – bears the cost of grid upgrades needed to support our operations.
- Water use
Highlands West will use modern cooling technologies to minimize water use.
Cooling a data center means moving heat out of the building. Central Pennsylvania’s climate does much of that work on its own. Outside air is cool enough to carry the load for most of the year — modern systems increasingly run on closed loops that are filled once and then recirculate, rather than drawing water continuously.
- Who runs it
Corscale develops, owns and operates responsible data centers.
For nearly 40 years we have worked been developing and managing large-scale real estate projects across the country. That long-term track record is built on responsible development, delivering high-quality projects, working closely with host communities and standing behind what we build.
The Corscale Promise
Corscale is committed to the responsible development and operation of Highlands West. We put these commitments in writing and we hold ourselves accountable:
- 01
We show up by name.
We are proud of our record of responsible development. For questions or more information about Highlands West, please contact us at info@highlandswestpa.com
- 02
We pay our own way.
We cover external costs related to the data center. We are committed to investing in and improving public services and shared spaces that surround our operations. We will not shift the burden for water or power onto residents. Additionally, Corscale will make substantial investments in the community to address unmet needs that our development can help address.
- 03
We engage with the community.
At Corscale, we want Swatara Township and Dauphin County to be informed and involved. This includes working with township leaders, local businesses and labor representatives during the planning, development and operational phases.
- 04
Benefits for all.
Highlands West represents a significant capital investment in Swatara Township and Dauphin County. It will bring millions of dollars of direct investment, hundreds of jobs and new additional investments for community infrastructure. As we work with the Township to develop this project, residents of Swatara Township should expect that Highlands West will be a source of community wealth, ecological enhancement, and shared prosperity.
- 05
We build with local hands.
Corscale prioritizes local union hiring and partnering with local trades, community colleges and workforce initiatives to create a new skilled work pipeline for modern trades and credentialed professional jobs. For Highlands West, building construction will use union labor, with added opportunities for non-union contractors on site.
- 06
We design to fit.
Setbacks, buffers, noise and light designed for the unique characteristics of Swatara Township and our site specifically. We take care to ensure that our facilities are low impact from a design perspective.
- 07
We stay accountable.
Corscale is a responsible developer dedicated to being a good neighbor in the communities where we operate. For Highlands West, that means careful project planning and execution, transparent communication and engagement with the community before, during and after the project is completed.
Impact In Numbers
Highlands West will have a positive impact for the residents of Swatara Township and Dauphin County. Corscale commissioned Oxford Economics to conduct an independent economic analysis of all the ways our project will bring new investment, resources and investment to the community.
- 1Oxford Economics for Corscale, Highlands East and Highlands West economic impact. Investment and campus figures provided by Corscale.
Learn More
We are here to answer your questions. Please reach out to our team with any questions or concerns and we will get back in touch with you as quickly as possible.
How many jobs will Highlands West provide?
More than 250 permanent, full-time jobs across the Highlands East and West campuses once operations begin in 2029, plus more than 2,000 tradespeople on site at peak during construction.
Will the construction jobs be union labor?
Yes. Union labor for building construction, with added opportunities for non-union contractors on site. More than 2,000 tradespeople will be on site at peak across both campuses, with work spanning the multi-year build.
How much is actually being invested here?
$14.5 billion of combined capital investment across the Highlands East and West campuses — 1,414 MW and 1.97 million sq ft in five buildings — with construction from 2027 to 2029.
How does that compare to the golf course?
At Highlands West, that is far less water than the Dauphin Highlands course drew to irrigate its fairways and greens.
How much water will Highlands West use?
Day-to-day use across both Highlands campuses is about 20,000 gallons a day — in the range of a single office building, not an industrial user.
Will this reduce the water available to Swatara Township households?
No. The Highlands campuses cool on a closed loop. The same water circulates through the system again and again rather than evaporating away, so there is no seasonal draw on the local supply. The campuses will not draw on the water local households rely upon.
Will my electric bill go up?
No. Highlands West will be cost neutral for residents. Corscale will fund all of the power infrastructure necessary to serve our facility, commit to long-term service agreements, maintain minimum billing obligations, and provide financial security to ensure that our project – not local residents – bears the cost of grid upgrades needed to support our operations.
Will I hear it?
The Highlands campuses combine conservative planning, enhanced sound controls and ongoing accountability. Acoustic packages are incorporated into key rooftop cooling equipment, and sound barriers are planned at the roof edge and around ground-mounted equipment. Nearby sensitive locations are evaluated under demanding operating conditions, with additional mitigation planned at these locations. The campuses are designed to operate well below the Township’s noise limits.
How far will the buildings be from neighbors?
Both Highlands campuses sit well back from their neighbors — a minimum 210-foot setback extending to 275 feet to every adjacent property line and right-of-way, behind a 70-foot landscape buffer of mature trees.
What will it look like from my property?
A 70-foot landscape buffer of new, mature trees screens the campus from the road, with open space between the buffer and the buildings. Distance and dense landscaping also soften sound before it reaches neighbors.
What is happening to the Dauphin Highlands Golf Course?
The Dauphin Highlands Golf Course is closing, and the 228-acre property will be redeveloped. The property’s size, its location near other industrial development and its existing infrastructure make it well suited for a data center campus.
Will the existing trees be preserved?
Corscale recognizes that the property has long provided open space and mature tree cover for the surrounding community. As plans advance, the project will be designed with attention to setbacks, buffers, landscaping, screening, and preservation of existing trees where feasible.
When will construction start and how long will it take?
Groundbreaking is planned for early 2027, with site work, building and fit-out phased through 2029. HITT Contracting serves as general contractor for Highlands East and West, managing construction from groundbreaking through commissioning.
How will construction traffic be handled?
Construction traffic enters and exits through designated, guarded access points off South Harrisburg Street and Quarry Road, with routing coordinated with Swatara Township to minimize impact on surrounding neighborhoods.
What will the community receive beyond tax revenue?
A community benefit agreement will be negotiated with the Township, put in writing, and funded as the campuses advance. Corscale’s commitments are organized around four pillars:
- A Community Benefit Fund the Township can direct to local priorities
- Emergency services, including police, fire, rescue and EMS
- Education and workforce, including STEM and technical education, scholarships and apprenticeships
- Roads, water and sewer improvements
The agreement is voluntary, and it is separate from and in addition to the taxes the project will pay year after year.
What happens to the property if the data center ever closes?
Corscale is building the Highlands campuses to remain an asset for Swatara Township that could serve a future industrial or commercial purpose. Corscale is a well-capitalized, long-term developer that maintains and protects the property until it has a new owner. Equipment is removed and recycled, with more than 99% kept out of landfill, and the building is ready for its next use.
Have a question about Highlands West?
If you have a question about Highlands West and you can’t find the answer here, please . We will be providing regular project updates and the project progresses and are always happy to provide additional details.