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 156 acres on Highland Street in Swatara Township and on a site naturally separated from much of the surrounding community. Corscale is building Highlands East 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 East
Swatara Township has long benefited from its location at the crossroads of Central Pennsylvania. Major highways, existing infrastructure and proximity to Harrisburg have made the township home to a mix of businesses, industry, residential neighborhoods and regional employers.
The Highlands East site was selected because it offers a property with excellent infrastructure access and relatively few immediate neighbors. The approximately 156-acre property is bordered by Interstate 283, buffered by Laurel Run Creek and naturally separated from much of the surrounding community. Corscale’s ownership of several adjoining and nearby properties also creates opportunities for meaningful setbacks, landscaping and screening.
Highlands East provides room to design around neighbors rather than crowding them, while putting new investments in place that will benefit the entire community. Highlands East is one of two proposed Corscale campuses in Swatara Township, alongside Highlands West, 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 East will encompass approximately 744,000 square feet over two buildings with 435 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 East 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 East 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 East 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 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 East. 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 East, please contact us at info@highlandseastpa.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 East 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 East 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 East, 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 East, 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 East 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 East 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 much water will Highlands East 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 East 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.
Why was this site selected?
The Highlands East site was selected because it offers a location with excellent infrastructure access and relatively few immediate neighbors. The approximately 156-acre property is bordered by Interstate 283 and buffered by Laurel Run Creek, and Corscale’s ownership of several adjoining and nearby properties creates opportunities for meaningful setbacks, landscaping and screening.
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 access points directly off Highland Street, 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 East?
If you have a question about Highlands East 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.