Round Rock Datacenter
Project Overview and Community Updates
Overview
Skybox Datacenters has proposed a Round Rock data center, near Old Settlers Boulevard and Chandler Creek. We are working with the City of Round Rock on a Planned Unit Development (PUD) to establish clear standards and strong protections for nearby neighborhoods. Our goal is to be a trusted partner to the city, the community, and our neighbors as we continue investing in Central Texas.
Skybox is committed to open communication, transparency, and ongoing dialogue with residents and community leaders. We will continue meeting with neighbors, sharing updates, and listening to feedback to ensure the development remains transparent and aligned with community expectations throughout the review and approval process.
About Us
Skybox Datacenters is a Texas-founded and based company committed to responsible growth, environmental stewardship, and long-term community partnership. We design and build data centers to meet high standards of safety, efficiency, and reliability while respecting and strengthening surrounding communities. Our facilities in Hutto, Pflugerville, Dallas and other Texas communities demonstrate our ability to deliver high-quality projects that exceed typical light-industrial requirements. We work closely with city staff, elected officials, and residents to ensure our sites remain unobtrusive, compliant, and beneficial to the local tax base. Beyond our facilities, Skybox has been an engaged local partner, supporting public safety, economic development, and community initiatives identified by the cities we serve through both financial contributions and employee volunteer efforts. Our experienced operations team provides on-the-ground leadership and ongoing, transparent, community engagement.
The Round Rock Datacenter
Site Development Options
Community Engagement
We appreciate the opportunity to work collaboratively with the Round Rock community throughout this process. Neighbors can engage in the conversation in the following ways:
Submit questions or concerns at roundrockdatacenter@skyboxdatacenters.com
Attend neighborhood meetings to address questions and hear feedback. Please send an email to the address above to receive updates about times and locations.
Questions & Answers
We have listened closely to the feedback shared by neighbors and community leaders over the past several weeks. The following Q&A reflects the topics raised most often and answers to their questions.
Why is a data center being proposed at this location?
The property is zoned Light Industrial and is located near existing transmission infrastructure required for a data center. A previously planned industrial development was scheduled to commence in fall 2025, but Skybox’s offer on the property created the opportunity for an alternative use as a data center. Skybox worked with City of Round Rock staff to create a Planned Unit Development (PUD) that increases oversight and strengthens protections for nearby neighborhoods.
What will the data center be used for?
The facility will support cloud computing, data storage, healthcare and education platforms, communications networks, and regional business operations. It is not a public-facing business or a high-traffic site.
What safeguards protect neighborhood character and quality of life?
The PUD includes multiple requirements specifically designed to protect nearby homes. The project must maintain a separation of more than 500 feet between the building and the neighborhood, provide an 80-foot setback with a 25-foot landscaped buffer, construct an 8-foot masonry wall, and screen all mechanical yards.
Will this project strain the Texas power grid or raise electricity prices?
No. Construction cannot begin until Oncor and ERCOT confirm sufficient grid capacity is available to serve the facility without affecting reliability for nearby homes, schools, hospitals, or businesses. In addition, the facility will enable Oncor to add resiliency to the transmission system and will comply with ERCOT rules, including curtailment from the grid during emergencies, allowing grid capacity to serve critical resources while the data center relies on its redundancy systems, including generators.
These measures improve overall grid reliability in the area and benefit residents, hospitals, and other critical services. All costs for required improvements are borne entirely by Skybox. Electricity rates in Texas are market-driven, and this project will not directly impact electricity rates.
How much water will the facility use, and will it affect the aquifer?
The facility uses a closed-loop cooling system that recirculates water rather than continuously consuming it. Metered data from similar Round Rock facilities show annual use comparable to about 15 homes. The system does not draw from or discharge into the aquifer. Skybox has historically performed even better than comparable Round Rock facilities, using less water.
Will the facility create ongoing noise or vibration?
No. The data center will operate quietly. All mechanical equipment will be screened behind masonry walls and placed more than 500 feet from the nearest homes. Generators will operate only during short monthly tests or actual outages, and the project must meet City noise limits at the property line. Neighboring homes will not experience the intermittent, high-impact noise typical of warehouse operations.
Will generator emissions affect air quality?
Generator emissions are regulated by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). The facility must meet all emissions limits before operating, and generators run only for brief testing or during outages.
Will this project reduce nearby property values?
No. There is no evidence of property value declines near Round Rock’s existing data centers. These facilities generate very little traffic, operate quietly, and have limited on-site staffing. The PUD for this project adds stronger protections than today’s Light Industrial zoning.
Does the data center pose cancer or long-term health risks?
No. The project must meet national electrical, environmental, and air-quality standards. Round Rock’s existing data centers have operated for years without documented health impacts.
How does this project benefit Round Rock?
Data centers contribute substantial taxable value while placing minimal demands on city services. This project could generate more than 10 times the taxable value of the currently planned industrial development, significantly strengthening Round Rock’s commercial tax base and helping support stable, competitive tax rates for residents.
