ROUND ROCK, Texas — On a Thursday evening in Round Rock, while most folks were settling into their nightly routines, something big — and a little bit futuristic — was happening at City Hall. The city took the first official step toward transforming a piece of vacant land into what could become one of the region’s next major tech hubs: a brand-new Skybox Datacenters campus.
This isn’t just a rezoning discussion.
This is the beginning of a new chapter — the kind of story where innovation, imagination, and ol’ Texas grit shake hands.
A New Player Enters the Field
Skybox Datacenters, already known for operating massive digital campuses across the U.S., is aiming to plant its next flag right here in Round Rock. They’ve already built in Pflugerville and Hutto — and now, they’re ready to complete the triangle.
Their next proposed home?
A 29.69-acre stretch of land just east of N. A.W. Grimes Blvd and south of E. Old Settlers Blvd — a spot that might soon transform from quiet soil into a buzzing, blinking hub of digital muscle.
City Council approved rezoning of the land on first reading, shifting it from Light Industrial to a specialized PUD — Planned Unit Development. In simpler terms:
✨ A customized zone built through back-and-forth teamwork between the city and the developer.
As Round Rock’s Planning & Development Director Bradley Dushkin put it:
“This isn’t our first rodeo.”
The city has handled these before — and they’ve learned exactly which guardrails keep everything running smoothly.
A Community Asking Big Questions
Of course, every new adventure brings a little curiosity… and a few raised eyebrows.
Nearby resident Jeanette Rowsey voiced a concern many folks are wondering:
“What does all this mean for water, electricity, and our neighborhood five years from now?”
It’s a fair question — especially in a world racing into the AI era faster than most people can finish their morning coffee.
Skybox Responds: “We’re Here to Help, Not Harm.”
Skybox, ready to play ball, stepped up with a statement of reassurance — the kind of straight-to-the-point reply that even the Savannah Bananas crowd would cheer for:
Their facility uses very little water, thanks to closed-loop cooling.
Most water consumption will come from… restrooms and water fountains.
They’re working with Oncor to increase grid reliability, not stress it.
Skybox will pay for any electrical upgrades — not local ratepayers.
And they say they want to be good neighbors: supporting schools, first responders, and the Round Rock community.
City staff backed this up, noting that based on another data center in town, the expected water usage is roughly equivalent to 15 homes — not the massive drain some imagine.
A City Growing Into Its Future
Round Rock is no stranger to big tech footprints. The city already hosts major data centers from Switch and Sabey — with more planned. It’s like the city is assembling its own digital kingdom, building one tower at a time.
Existing centers include:
Switch Building 1 — 150 Dell Way
Sabey Building 1 — 1300 Louis Henna Blvd
And more are on the horizon.
Even Amazon is sitting on land zoned for a potential data center.
A quiet field today… a powerhouse tomorrow?
What’s Next?
Round Rock City Council will hold a final reading and vote soon.
If approved, Skybox Datacenters will officially join the cast of characters shaping Round Rock’s next era.
And while some residents still wonder how the story ends, one thing is certain:
Round Rock is growing — boldly, rapidly, and with a cast of innovators ready to help imagine the future.
The world is changing fast.
Tech is marching forward.
And Round Rock?
Round Rock is stepping onto the field like a team ready to play at the next level — sunglasses on, chin up, and absolutely unafraid of big ideas.
The next chapter starts soon.
And you can bet WilCo TX Insider — and Scout — will be watching.
