Armonk-based IBM wants to expand the Quantum computer facilities on its campus on South Road in the Town of Poughkeepsie by constructing approximately 511,710 square feet of new buildings. The 395-acre campus already has about 45 buildings containing more than 4-million square feet of space. The new construction would take place on the site of an unused parking lot and also cover the footprint of two existing buildings that would be demolished.
The project would involve constructing three new buildings. The largest would be an approximately 467,450-square-feet Quantum Computing Center building. There also would be a new 7,660-square-feet utility building and a 36,600-square-feet generator building. The existing buildings to be demolished cover approximately 181,000 square feet. In addition to the buildings, the project will also include associated parking, drive aisles, utilities, landscaping, and lighting improvements.
Attorney David R. Everett of the Albany-based law firm Whiteman Osterman & Hanna LLP told the Town of Poughkeepsie that the plan would “increase the local property tax base with a total estimated project capital investment in the town in excess of several hundred million dollars, provide 200 new permanent jobs and a substantial number of construction jobs, as well as provide other ancillary economic benefits due to employment and construction.”
Everett said that the energy needs for the project can be supported by existing infrastructure and no new electric substation or related utility upgrades are part of what’s being proposed. However, he suggested that a new electric substation may someday be required to accommodate future growth of IBM’ s Quantum operations on the Poughkeepsie campus.
In a document explaining the proposal, IBM said that it will position Poughkeepsie’s IBM campus as a leader in New York for the development and manufacturing of new Quantum computing technologies and the assembly of Quantum systems. The company referenced Gov. Kathy Hochul’s last State of the State address that highlighted the importance of Quantum technology for New York’s economic future.
IBM said that it “seeks to do its part in Poughkeepsie to support this important initiative. Further, expanded Quantum operations at the Poughkeepsie campus will enhance other, existing operations there and make use of existing developed areas and infrastructure.”
Everett said that IBM will be conducting studies that will evaluate the project’s noise, visual and traffic impacts. He said that IBM anticipates that the Town of Poughkeepsie’s Planning Board would want to serve as lead agency for the environmental review under the State Environmental Quality Review Act (SEQRA).
