Eagan's $17 Million Data Center Deal Signals South Metro's Tech Transformation

The South Metro is experiencing a quiet revolution, and a recent $17 million real estate transaction in Eagan offers a glimpse into the region's digital future.

The property at 610 Opperman Drive in Eagan has a new owner and a dramatically different purpose. Centra, formerly known as Deep Edge until rebranding about a year ago, purchased the site from Ryan Companies in an all-cash deal according to a recent certificate of real estate value.

This isn't just another real estate transaction, it's part of a larger transformation of the former Thomson Reuters campus. Ryan Companies, working closely with Thomson Reuters and the city of Eagan, has been systematically redeveloping the site, with residential properties planned for the west side near Elrene Road and industrial development to the east closer to Dodd Road.

The newly acquired property will become MSP1, Centra's latest data center facility. The specifications are impressive:

The Centra data center isn't the only major development transforming this corner of Eagan. Amazon purchased land from Ryan earlier this year for $52 million, planning to construct a massive three-story, 3.5 million square foot distribution center on an adjacent site.

This proximity isn't coincidental. The co-location of data infrastructure and logistics operations creates synergies that benefit both types of facilities and positions Eagan as a critical hub for digital commerce and distribution.

The Eagan deal reflects a larger pattern of data center investment across Minnesota and the broader region. Recent transactions include:

These investments underscore the growing importance of digital infrastructure as businesses and consumers increasingly rely on cloud computing, streaming services, and e-commerce platforms.

The success of this redevelopment project demonstrates the value of collaborative planning between private developers, municipalities, and end users. The Eagan City Council's flexibility in modifying redevelopment plans to accommodate the existing building structure—originally dubbed "Project Vanderbilt"—enabled Ryan to find the right tenant for the space.

Ryan has additional development opportunities on the horizon, with two build-to-suit properties planned adjacent to the Centra facility and 30 acres of remaining land available for sale.

Centra's expansion into Minnesota represents the company's growing national footprint. Beyond MSP1, the company operates facilities in North Carolina and is developing another data center in Reno, Nevada, with carrier-neutral Meet-Me room facilities in Reno and Columbus, Ohio.

For the South Metro, the transformation of the Thomson Reuters campus from a traditional corporate headquarters into a mixed-use development featuring cutting-edge digital infrastructure and logistics facilities represents a microcosm of broader economic evolution.

As businesses become increasingly digital and consumer expectations for rapid delivery continue to rise, communities that successfully attract and support both data centers and distribution facilities position themselves for sustained economic growth.

The $17 million investment in MSP1 is more than a real estate transaction—it's a bet on Eagan's future as a critical node in America's digital infrastructure network. With Amazon's massive distribution center taking shape nearby, this corner of the South Metro is becoming a testament to how traditional corporate campuses can evolve to meet the demands of our increasingly connected economy.