$27.9M Data Center Shell in Mesa Needs 6 Low Voltage Systems on CyrusOne's New Campus

A $27.9 million data center shell in Mesa, Arizona requires 6 low voltage systems, creating an estimated $2.6 million opportunity for contractors as CyrusOne builds out one of the largest data center campuses in the Phoenix metro area.

Project Overview

A new 243,332 square foot data center shell with adjacent office space has hit permits in Mesa, Arizona at 3255 S 96th Street. The $27.9 million project represents the first major building permit on CyrusOne's approved five-building campus, which will ultimately span nearly 1.5 million square feet of data center infrastructure in East Mesa near the intersection of Elliot Road and 96th Street.

Permit data from the City of Mesa shows this shell building includes a partial interior fit-out with deferred fire alarm, access control, and emergency responder radio coverage systems — meaning the full low voltage buildout will follow as tenant requirements are finalized. For LV contractors in the Phoenix metro, this is the opening salvo of what promises to be a multi-year, multi-building pipeline of work.

The broader CyrusOne campus was approved by the Mesa Planning and Zoning Commission in July 2024 on a 4-3 vote. Each of the five planned buildings will be approximately 290,000 square feet with dedicated data halls and office space. The campus will include a company-owned substation and a Salt River Project switchyard, underscoring the scale of power infrastructure involved. CyrusOne acquired the 68-acre parcel from Sunbelt Investment Holdings in 2018 for $19.3 million, and the full buildout is expected to take five years.

Project	Data Center Shell — CyrusOne Mesa Campus
Location	3255 S 96th St, Mesa, AZ
Total Value	$27.9 million (this building)
Building Size	243,332 SF
Project Type	Data Center
Status	Active — Permit Filed
LV Score	10/10
Source	Mesa Building Permits

Key Players

While this specific building permit does not list a general contractor, the broader campus development involves several major players in the data center industry.

Role	Company	Details
Developer / Owner	CyrusOne	Global data center REIT operating 50+ facilities across North America and Europe. Acquired by KKR and Global Infrastructure Partners in 2022 for $15 billion. The Mesa campus represents a significant expansion of their Arizona footprint.
Architect / Designer	Corgan	Dallas-based architecture firm with a dedicated data center practice. Corgan has designed mission-critical facilities across the country and is credited with the campus design for the Mesa project.
Utility Partner	Salt River Project (SRP)	Arizona's largest public power utility, providing grid interconnection via a dedicated switchyard on the campus. SRP's involvement signals the massive power requirements — up to 198 megawatts at full buildout.

Low Voltage Systems Breakdown

This data center shell requires six integrated low voltage systems spanning security, life safety, wireless, and data infrastructure. Data centers are among the most LV-intensive building types, and the deferred systems noted in the permit suggest that the full scope will be bid as the interior buildout progresses.

System	Category	Scope Description	Complexity
Structured Cabling	Data/Voice	The backbone of any data center. Expect extensive fiber optic runs between data halls, meet-me rooms, and cross-connects. Cat6A copper for office areas and management networks. At 243,000+ SF, the cable plant will be massive — potentially hundreds of thousands of feet of fiber and copper. Pathway infrastructure, cable tray, and hot/cold aisle containment zones all factor into the cabling scope.	Very High
Fire Alarm	Life Safety	Data centers require VESDA (Very Early Smoke Detection Apparatus) or equivalent aspirating detection in server halls, supplementing conventional spot detection. The permit notes deferred fire alarm — this will be a significant standalone contract. Expect integration with pre-action sprinkler systems and building management systems. NFPA 72 and NFPA 75 compliance required.	High
Access Control	Security	Multi-layered physical security is non-negotiable for data centers. Expect mantrap entries, biometric readers, card access on every door, and integration with CCTV. The campus perimeter will need vehicle barriers and gate access systems. Interior zones will have tiered access levels for data halls, mechanical rooms, and office areas. Also deferred per permit — will be bid separately.	High
CCTV / Video Surveillance	Security	Full coverage inside and out. Data centers typically require 24/7 recorded surveillance with 90+ day retention. Expect high-resolution IP cameras at all entry points, loading docks, data halls, and perimeter. Video analytics for motion detection and facial recognition may be specified. Network video recorder (NVR) infrastructure must be sized for the massive storage requirements.	High
DAS (Distributed Antenna System)	Wireless	The permit specifically calls out emergency responder radio coverage — a code requirement for buildings of this size. The DAS scope will include in-building cellular enhancement for all major carriers plus public safety frequencies. At 243,000 SF with dense concrete and metal construction, robust DAS design is critical. BDA (Bi-Directional Amplifier) systems may be required to meet signal strength thresholds per IFC Section 510.	High
Security Systems	Security	Beyond access control and CCTV, data centers require integrated intrusion detection, perimeter security, and alarm monitoring. Expect door contacts, glass break sensors, PIR detectors, and a centralized security operations center (SOC) integration. The campus-wide security infrastructure must tie all five buildings into a unified management platform as they come online.	High

Estimated Low Voltage Value

The database does not include a pre-calculated LV value for this project, so we have estimated it using industry benchmarks for data center construction.

Total Project Value	$27,892,887
Estimated LV Percentage	8% (data center midpoint)
System Count Multiplier	1.15x (6 systems)
Estimated LV Contract Value	$2,566,146 (~$2.6 million)

An estimated $2.6 million in low voltage work for a single building shell is significant, but it is important to understand this in context. The $27.9 million permit value covers the shell and partial fit-out — the actual LV scope may increase substantially as the interior buildout is completed and tenant requirements are specified. Data centers at this scale often see LV budgets at the higher end of the 6-10% range, particularly when VESDA fire detection, multi-carrier DAS, and enterprise-grade security are all in play.

Moreover, this is just one of five planned buildings. If all five buildings proceed at similar scale, the total campus LV opportunity could range from $10 million to $15 million over the five-year buildout timeline. That represents a sustained, multi-year pipeline for contractors who establish a relationship early.

Skills and Certifications Required

Data center construction demands some of the most specialized low voltage skills in the industry. The six systems on this project span multiple disciplines, and contractors will need deep bench strength to compete.

System	Key Certifications	Critical Skills
Structured Cabling	BICSI RCDD (design), BICSI INSTC/INSTF (install), manufacturer certs (CommScope, Panduit)	High-count fiber splicing and testing, Cat6A termination, cable tray installation, Fluke DSX certification testing, hot/cold aisle pathway design
Fire Alarm	NICET Level III+ (data center scale), State of Arizona fire alarm license, VESDA manufacturer cert	NFPA 72 and NFPA 75 compliance, aspirating detection installation, pre-action sprinkler integration, BMS tie-ins
Access Control	PSP (ASIS), manufacturer certs (Genetec, Lenel, HID), AZ low voltage license	Mantrap configuration, biometric reader installation, IP networking, multi-site credential management
CCTV	Manufacturer certs (Axis, Avigilon, Milestone), CompTIA Network+	IP camera deployment at scale, PoE switching, NVR sizing, video analytics configuration, 90-day storage calculation
DAS	BICSI RCDD, RF engineering background, carrier-specific training	IFC 510 compliance, BDA system design, multi-carrier coordination, signal testing and certification, fiber backbone for DAS
Security Systems	ESA/NTS Level 2+, State alarm license, CPP (ASIS)	Perimeter intrusion detection, SOC integration, enterprise alarm management, door hardware coordination

Entry-level technicians with BICSI Installer 1 or NICET Level I can contribute to cable pulling, device mounting, and basic terminations across this project. However, data center work is demanding — mid-level technicians with BICSI INSTC or NICET Level II will be needed for fiber splicing, system wiring, and device commissioning. Senior roles are critical: at least one RCDD for design oversight, a NICET Level III+ for fire alarm engineering, and experienced RF engineers for the DAS scope.

Contractors should verify their Arizona low voltage contractor license is current. Arizona requires a ROC (Registrar of Contractors) license for low voltage work — specifically the C-11 (electrical) or related specialty classifications. Given the data center's mission-critical nature, expect rigorous pre-qualification requirements from CyrusOne or their general contractor.

Market Signal

Mesa — and the broader Phoenix metro — has emerged as one of the hottest data center markets in the country. This CyrusOne campus is far from an isolated project. Meta has built a $1 billion-plus campus in Mesa with DPR Construction. Novva Data Centers announced a $3 billion campus in Mesa. And multiple other operators including EdgeCore and QTS have significant Arizona operations.

What is driving the boom? Arizona offers relatively affordable land, abundant solar energy potential, favorable tax incentives, and proximity to major West Coast internet exchanges. Salt River Project and Arizona Public Service provide robust power infrastructure, and the state has been aggressively courting data center investment. For low voltage contractors, this translates to a sustained pipeline of work that extends years into the future.

The CyrusOne campus alone — five buildings over five years — represents a long-term opportunity for LV firms that can meet the demanding requirements of mission-critical construction. Contractors who invest in BICSI, NICET, and DAS certifications now will be well-positioned to capture this work. And with the overall Phoenix metro data center market expected to continue growing, the opportunity extends well beyond any single campus.

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