Defining a
Class A,
Community-First
Developer
In commercial real estate, «Class A» describes the highest standard of quality. The best buildings, in the best locations, run by the best operators. In data center development, we think it means something more. A Class A data center should be as good for the community as it is for the clients inside it. That’s the standard Compass holds itself to and why we call our approach Class A, Community-First, because a data center should earn its place in your community.
What it Means to Us
To us, Class A, Community-First means showing up as a genuine resource: a responsible environmental steward, a creator of real and lasting economic opportunity and a long-term partner with a track record to back it up. Our 100-year campuses make us the neighbor you want in your backyard.
How a Class A, Community-First Developer Shows Up
Five pillars that define how Compass, and any other Class A developer, shows up as a neighbor and a long-term partner.
Resource Stewardship
Resource stewardship means zero net draw on local water resources, zero cost to ratepayers for grid and transmission upgrades and an active commitment to grid stability during emergencies, including serving as a resource that helps keep homes powered when the grid is under stress.
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Full developer funding for grid and transmission upgrades, so the cost never lands on ratepayers.
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Zero net water consumption for cooling; water-positive stormwater management after development.
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A developer who invests in technology and commits to lessen the strain on the grid during times of stress, so homes don’t lose life-saving power.
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Cleaner and more sustainable operations throughout the facility lifecycle.
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Since founding in 2011, Compass has used zero city water for cooling. Closed-loop systems recycle the same water indefinitely. Non-cooling use equals roughly two average households per year.
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We have committed tens of millions in grid and transmission upgrades in every market we enter, so ratepayers never bear the cost.
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Through collaboration with grid operators and utilities, we operate as a grid resource during storms and unplanned outages, keeping homes powered when it matters most.
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When our generators run, they run on clean-burning HVO biofuel, enabling cleaner operations from day one.
Good Neighbor Design
Being a good neighbor is not a design specification, it's a practice. Physical standards matter, but a Class A Community-First developer also commits to local investment. Roads, parks, infrastructure upgrades and workforce investments are in place before the first shovel hits the ground.
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Binding community commitments are in place before construction begins, not contingent on incentives, and remain in effect throughout the life of the project.
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Verifiable construction standards: clean and safe job sites, noise controls, lighting plans, setbacks by design.
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Demonstrated responsiveness to community feedback, not just during permitting.
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Focus on minimizing construction phase disruption to neighbors and local traffic.
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Buildings are designed to evolve with time, ensuring campuses remain operational for generations and are not left behind by the next wave of technology.
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Our community commitments are not conditional on tax treatment. Investment in roads, parks, infrastructure and workforce programs happens regardless of incentives.
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We use on-site concrete batch plants and kit-of-parts assembly to reduce construction traffic and noise. Thoughtful setbacks and open green space ensure our campuses fit within the community, not impose on it.
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When a resident near our Northern Virginia campus was bothered by a specific cooling frequency, we fixed it and recalibrated every unit across every campus. That is the standard we hold ourselves to.
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Our 100-year campus design ensures buildings evolve as technology does. No technological change leaves our campuses or our communities behind.
Economic Impact
Economic value should be accessible to the people who live in the community. The lasting economic contribution of a Class A Community-First campus does not peak at ribbon cutting. It compounds, funding schools, roads and public services for decades.
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Local labor commitments for construction, with measurable, verifiable targets.
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Active workforce development programs with direct career pathways into career-building operations roles.
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Competitive operations wages, often above local averages, that strengthen the local economy.
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Long-lasting tax base contribution that funds schools, roads and public services.
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To date, Compass has created more than 20,000 full time jobs and thousands of construction jobs. Compass creates between 1,500 and 1,700 construction jobs at peak, and nearly 3 out of 4 workers are local.
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The operations jobs that follow can pay «30–50% more than the local average,» as stated in the DCC/PwC impact study, strengthening the broader local economy.
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Through our MEI Data Center Pathway Program and partnerships with local trade and community colleges, residents have a direct route into one of the fastest-growing industries in the country.
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Our campuses generate tax revenue that funds schools, roads and public services, and the economic impact compounds every year.
Built to Last
A Class A, Community First developer builds to stay, not to exit. When you plan to be somewhere for a hundred years, every decision looks different. You invest in the grid because you'll depend on it. You develop the local workforce because you'll hire from it. Long-lasting success requires true partnership.
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Backed by long-term institutional capital, not speculative or short-horizon funds.
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Buildings designed to be upgraded across decades, not obsolete with the next technology cycle.
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A proven track record of operating in communities over the long term, not just developing projects.
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Creditworthy customers running mission-critical workloads, not speculative AI demand.
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We have a 15-year track record of building and operating data centers, backed by Brookfield, Ontario Teachers’ and KKR, among the most durable institutional investors in the world.
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Our campuses are designed with a 100-year horizon, built to adapt with technology and refreshed every three to five years so demand for skilled operators never plateaus.
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We build for the world’s most creditworthy organizations running mission-critical workloads. Business-critical infrastructure powers the AI economy and is built to last.
Independent Verification
A developer's word is only as strong as the standard behind it. Without third-party verification from organizations with no stake in the outcome, communities are left evaluating claims rather than credentials.
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Third-party certifications from recognized bodies spanning construction, sustainability and water, covering the full campus, not just individual buildings.
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Third-party recognition from organizations outside the data center industry, with no stake in the outcome.
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Compass is the only data center partner for sustainable development for UNESCO, a recognition that reflects how we build, not just what we build.
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We are the first and only data center developer to hold all three independent certifications: the ICG Platinum Medallion, the iMasons Platinum Medallion and the Green Globes Campus Certification.
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These credentials are evidence of how every design decision comes back to the same principle: our home communities should be better for our being here.