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Data center project · Union County, New Jersey

CoreWeave data center at the NEST campus (former Merck headquarters), Kenilworth

Under construction · CoreWeave's conversion of a former Merck laboratory in Kenilworth into a planned 250 MW AI data center, the sole recipient of New Jersey's AI data center tax credit. Also known as: 11 NEST Drive, Northeast Science & Technology Center.

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Status
Under construction · as of Sept. 2025
Location
11 NEST Drive, on the NEST campus at 2000 Galloping Hill Road, Kenilworth · Union County
Status note
Construction began in mid-September 2025, per RE-NJ; operation is expected in early 2027.
Power
250 MW
250 MW is the planned capacity reported by RE-NJ; Inside Climate News quotes CoreWeave that the full campus could need up to 250 MW. The planning board minutes give no power figure.
Floor area
392,600 sq ft
Land
36 acres
Investment
About $1.76 billion by NJEDA's figure (reported as nearly $1.8 billion); CoreWeave had first announced $1.2 billion with its 2024 lease, and paid $322 million in 2025 for the building and 27 adjacent acres
Developer and team
CoreWeave
End user
CoreWeave
Utility
Not named in the sources reviewed; Commercial Observer reports the campus has its own 50 MW substation
Incentives
$250 million Next New Jersey Program - AI tax credit approved by the NJEDA board on Nov. 12, 2025 ($50 million a year over five years of a 10-year commitment, for 143 jobs); the only award the program made
Evidence
Primary public records
Size class
50 MW or more (tracker scope)
Map position approximate, from the reported address or area. Updated Oct. 17, 2026.

Updates, newest first

  1. April 30, 2026 The Leader reported residents raising concerns about the power grid, safety and the environment. (The Leader (Westfield), April 30, 2026; NJ Spotlight News, July 21, 2026)
  2. Nov. 12, 2025 The NJEDA board approved a $250 million Next New Jersey Program - AI tax credit for CoreWeave in Kenilworth. (New Jersey Economic Development Authority, Nov. 12, 2025; New Jersey Economic Development Authority, Aug. 2026; Real Estate NJ, Nov. 25, 2025; Inside Climate News, Feb. 26, 2026)
  3. Aug. 5, 2025 Commercial Observer reported CoreWeave bought the building and 27 adjacent acres from the owners' venture for $322 million. (Commercial Observer, Aug. 5, 2025)
  4. May 15, 2025 The Kenilworth Planning Board voted 8-0 to approve CoreWeave's site plan (Application #25-003) to convert the lab building on a 36-acre lot into a data center, with 31 generators and a chiller yard. (Borough of Kenilworth Planning Board, May 15, 2025)
  5. Oct. 24, 2024 CoreWeave signed a long-term lease for the 280,000-square-foot Building 11 at the NEST campus owned by an Onyx Equities and Machine Investment Group venture. (NJBIZ, Oct. 24, 2024)

Conflicts and open questions

  • Square footage differs by stage: the planning board testimony described about 247,000 square feet across the existing building; RE-NJ, citing NJEDA, gives 392,600 square feet including 108,100 of new construction.

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