The University of Michigan hosted an open house Sept. 9 for community members to learn more about a proposed high-performance computational facility that will bring some of the nation’s top researchers to Michigan to tackle the world’s most pressing challenges.
An estimated 70 area residents and campus community members attended to ask questions and learn more about the project, a partnership between U-M and the Los Alamos National Laboratory that will enable cutting-edge research to enhance national security, public health and clean energy while creating hundreds of high-paying jobs in Washtenaw County.
“We would like to thank everyone who engaged in constructive dialogue and gave us a good perspective on community interests that will help the university as we move forward with this proposal,” said Chris Kolb, vice president for government relations. “This demonstrates that the local community is eager to learn more about how this project will come to life and the long-term benefits it will bring to the region.”
High-performance computational facilities use high-speed networks of thousands of supercharged computers that can quickly solve complex problems and drive breakthroughs in science, medicine and energy.
“High performance computing enables a wide range of scientific and engineering discoveries,” said Steven Ceccio, the Vincent T. and Gloria M Gorguze Professor of Engineering, and professor of mechanical engineering and of naval architecture and marine engineering in the College of Engineering who has been involved in this project since its inception.
“This project could accelerate the discovery of new drugs and treatments for disease. It could also help us create more sustainable building materials or better modeling of the weather so we can more accurately predict hurricanes and keep communities safer in the future.”
At the open house, held on North Campus, U-M faculty and administrators provided information and answered questions about the planning process and careful review of two potential sites, which include a parcel of land on Textile Road in Ypsilanti Township and the American Center for Mobility, at the Willow Run manufacturing complex.
The university is thoroughly investigating and analyzing both locations to ensure that the site selected meets the infrastructure needs of a high-performance computation center while also aligning with environmental best practices.
The open house was an opportunity to show that large-scale research infrastructure can be designed and operated in alignment with a sustainable future.
The project is being designed to meet the LEED Silver certification, the U.S. Green Building Council’s intermediate level of accreditation, at the minimum, with the LEED Gold standard as a stretch goal.
The facility’s rooftops are being designed to accommodate solar panels, and the buildings will be fully electric. Cooling water will come from municipal sources. The Michigan Department of Energy, Great Lakes and Environment will review and permit the stormwater and wetlands management plans. The facility will not draw or release any water into the Huron River. The university intends to maximize conservation and efficiency.
The university has secured an agreement with DTE to provide power and will incur the costs of building a new substation. Eventually, roof-top solar panels will also provide a portion of the power necessary to run the facility.
Construction on the $1.25 billion initiative, which was endorsed by the Michigan House and Senate Appropriations subcommittees, is expected to begin in 2027 with the facility fully operational in 2031. When completed, the facility will join 17 Department of Energy National Laboratories that make up the nation’s research and innovation ecosystem that provides information that is critical for U.S. foreign policy, domestic energy needs, and supports local and national economies.
Jill Baker
The citizens of Ypsi Township don’t want this in our backyards.
Tiffany Green
If this is going to be such a boon, why isn’t it being built in Ann Arbor? If it’s not going to damage the environment or the local population, why not build it in Ann Arbor? Ypsilanti has historically been thought of as Ann Arbor’s dumping ground and second class to Ann Arbor. This reeks of racism, classism, and the traditional Ann Arbor way of Not In My Back Yard.
Sam Colquitt
Ypsi doesn’t want to foot the higher power bills and poor micro climate this will bring us. Put it in Ann Arbor if it’s going to be so great. Most are barely scraping by in stewart beal’s apts. Take it elsewhere.
Eric Wahr
The word is already out. Virtually nobody who resides in eastern Washtenaw County finds this a desirable project. I understand the PR department has to do their job, but no amount of PR spin is going to win hearts and minds at this point; the trust has been broken.
The question to be answered is not the merits of the project or its computing capabilities, but why the proposed locations are so advantageous? Perhaps the next Record article will have quotes from leadership that explain the targeting of the sites and what makes them attractive to build upon. That answer could (potentially) be insightful regarding University strategy and who stands to benefit.
Pat Steffes
The residents of Ypsilanti Township do not want this project in our city. This project seeks to take advantage of Ypsilanti Township and its community with empty promises of local economic and community benefit when data and real-world cases suggest otherwise. UM has been unable to provide any designs or data.
Kari Wilder-Romans
Why wasn’t this “open house” in Ypsi Twp? This should have been accessible to the community that is going to be affected by this monstrosity the most.
Gabby Strzalkowski
As a Ypsilanti Township resident who lives less than a mile from one of the sites in consideration, I attended this event and engaged with U-M staff for about 2.5 hours to express my concerns about this facility. After listening and learning, I remain highly concerned with the university’s plans to move forward with this project. I was provided conflicting information throughout the event (e.g. some U-M staff told me this project would bring jobs to the community, while others assured me that I should not expect increased traffic in my neighborhood because few staff would be needed to run the facility). If the university wants to move forward with this project, they cannot in good faith proceed without buy-in from the community in which the facility will be housed. I was told that Ypsilanti Township is being considered because it has “existing infrastructure” to support the project. However, due to the strong community opposition from Ypsilanti Township residents, U-M should invest in the infrastructure needed to create this facility on their own campus if they want this project to come to fruition so badly.
Matthew Sestak
U-M admin: can’t divest a tiny portion of the endowment from genocide because we have to ensure financial stability!
Also U-M admin: full steam ahead with the technofascist energy-sucking AI bubble!
Corrin Leverton
“This demonstrates that the local community is eager to learn more about how this project will come to life and the long-term benefits it will bring to the region.” — Seems like a stretch to say that people showing up equals eagerness… I for one am not eager in the slightest. As someone who lives less than 10 minutes away from the Textile location in question, I am highly uncomfortable with the prospect of this being built near me. I am worried that it will negatively impact my neighborhood’s housing market and energy bills, as if I could afford to move anywhere else! I am also highly concerned with the mention of “U.S. foreign policy” mentioned far-too briefly. I completely agree that this meeting should have been offered in Ypsilanti Township, near the planned locations. I am wholly disappointed in the university for this project.
Kyle Roberts
My two big questions after reading this article.
“Cooling water will come from municipal sources.”
“The facility will not draw or release any water into the Huron River.”
Q1: Who/what are the municipal sources AND where are these municipal source obtaining their water from?
“…roof-top solar panels will also provide a portion of the power necessary to run the facility.”
Q2: “what portion (%) of the power necessary to run the facility will be provided by solar AND where will the remainder of the power necessary to run the facility be drawn from?
Madi Atkins
While I was unable to attend during my registered time, the list of prohibited items they sent before the event was wild, especially the prohibition of “Masks (intended to conceal identity).” How do you determine whether a mask is concealing someone’s identity or being used for health reasons?
Additionally, these events need to take place IN Ypsilanti Township, where it would be more accessible to the residents being affected. Holding it at an arguably locked-down location far from the residents who may not have a car or cannot afford to pay the outlandish parking prices, during times when buses are at their peak busiest (during rush hour), meaning it could take an hour+ to get to the NCRC via bus from Ypsi (if the resident is lucky enough to live or work near a busline AND get off work at a time that fits this schedule), feels intentional by the administration, in my opinion.
Improve engagement with the community directly impacted by this center, not just those who work at U-M or live in Ann Arbor.
Corrin Leverton
I’m not sure I buy the semantics of “high-performing computing facilities” being so very different than “data centers” – according to U-M itself, there’s a lot to be worried about:
https://stpp.fordschool.umich.edu/sites/stpp/files/2025-07/stpp-data-centers-2025.pdf
Theodore Hayman
Im an Ypsilanti resident, i don’t live right by the proposed sight but have and now live relatively close to this proposed site. Firstly
Diesel generators are noxious Natural Gas generators are negligible, every bit of it. U of M uses Nat Gas Generators the vast majority of the time, Ive run these large facility generators a thousand times literally.
I believe this is opportunity for the area. Yes it uses resources so let’s get help with our true river and lake water quality issue. Parking lot and street runoff, there are new and affordable collection methods. Lets use this opportunity to take Ford Lake and Bellville Lake to the next level. I believe it an easy sell. We get jobs, increased economic activity and a deal for storm water diversion.