Ark data centers (Iowa): Tucson Data Center

The Ark Tucson Data Center, located at 1215 East Pennsylvania Street, Tucson, Arizona, serves as a mission-critical colocation and interconnection hub in the U.S. Southwest. As a 3rd-generation facility, it is built to support high-density, scalable deployments with robust redundancy and connectivity. 

Tucson’s geographic advantages include a lower natural-disaster risk profile, favorable tax incentives, and proximity to major markets such as Phoenix. The facility is part of Ark’s national footprint, enabling customers to leverage cross-site resilience and interconnection across Ark’s U.S. network. 

⚙️ Facility Highlights

• Total building footprint: 38,000+ sq ft 
• Conditioned (raised-floor / colocation) space: ~ 20,000 sq ft / ~600 racks
• Power capacity: baseline 1.0 MW, with scalability beyond 5 MW 
• Power architecture: redundant 2N power setup 
• Backup power: 1 MW diesel generator(s) (N+1) 
• Cooling: N+1 cooling systems; use of CRAC units, overhead cooling, cold-aisle / hot-aisle containment 
• 100% cold-aisle containment achieved early in facility’s lifetime (notably in 2015) 
• Redundant fiber-optic connectivity with multiple carriers, dual entrance capability, meet-me rooms for interconnection 
• Environmental systems and controls along with reinforced concrete shell construction 
• ENERGY STAR® Certification (2023) for energy efficiency

🔐 Security & Compliance

• 24/7 secure access with biometric authentication and controlled perimeter access 
• Onsite security operations and continuous monitoring (SOCs / NOCs)
• CCTV surveillance in colocation and entry areas 
• Compliance certifications: SOC 2®, HIPAA, PCI DSS, NIST 800-53, HITRUST CSF, CMMC (various levels) 
• Strong fire protection: early smoke detection, reinforced building materials, environmental controls 

🌐 Connectivity & Carrier Access

• Carrier-neutral facility, allowing customers to select among multiple providers 
• Diverse fiber entry paths and dual cable entrance for redundancy
• Meet-me rooms / interconnection rooms supporting cross-connects, peering, and cloud on-ramps 
• Integration with TUSIX (Tucson Internet Exchange) providing local peering and exchange opportunities 
• WAN / cloud connectivity: direct links, bursting, BGP routing, etc. 

💼 Who It Serves

• Enterprises and regional providers requiring reliable colocation in the U.S. Southwest
• Defense, aerospace, and government organizations needing high compliance and security (especially given CMMC readiness) 
• Cloud service providers and technology firms seeking scalable, energy-efficient infrastructure
• Healthcare and financial services firms with regulatory and compliance mandates
• Organizations seeking low-cost, low-risk secondary market presence near Phoenix and in Arizona