Ardent PIT1 Data Center Expansion (615 McMichael Road, Robinson Township)

AI data center in a former EDMC building on McMichael Road aims for 12 MW

Developer

Ardent Data Centers, a wholly owned subsidiary of Northern Data AG, which is about 98% owned by RUM Group Inc. (formerly Rumble Inc.)

Tenant

No tenants named.

Current stage

The facility, a former Education Management Corp. data center, opened in June 2025. The company markets 2.4 MW of IT capacity to start, scaling to 12 MW. The Allegheny County Health Department proposed a minor source operating permit for three diesel emergency generators in March 2026; its final action isn't confirmed. The parent company changed hands in 2026 when Rumble, now RUM Group, bought about 98% of Northern Data.

Decision body

Allegheny County Health Department (air permits); Robinson Township for any land development or zoning approvals.

Top issues

Diesel backup generator permits, growth in power use from 2.4 MW to 12 MW of IT capacity, and ownership changes at the parent companies above the operator.

Key opponents

None identified.

Key supporters

None identified.

• 2024-01-22Ardent announced it had completed the purchase of the 7.5-acre McMichael Road data center and planned to expand it from 5 MW to 20 MW. PR Newswire (Northern Data Group)
• 2024-05-02Ardent broke ground on the liquid-cooling retrofit of the building. Northern Data Group
• 2025-06-04Northern Data announced the opening of the AI and high-performance computing data center, to be run by Ardent. Northern Data Group
• 2025-06-06The Pittsburgh Business Times reported the ribbon cutting on the 41,000-square-foot facility. WPXI (Pittsburgh Business Times)
• 2025-11-10Northern Data signed a business combination agreement with Rumble, which planned a share-exchange offer for all Northern Data shares. Northern Data AG (EQS newswire via boersengefluester)
• 2026-03-12ACHD gave notice of its intent to issue minor source operating permit 0819-OP26 for three diesel emergency generators, with comments due April 13, 2026. Allegheny County Health Department
• 2026-06-17Rumble closed on about 85.2% of Northern Data and announced its new name, RUM Group. RUM Group / Rumble
• 2026-09-30RUM Group bought 8,256,155 more Northern Data shares from Tether Investments, raising its stake to about 98%, as reported in a Form 8-K filed October 2. U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission

• 2025-11-10 DecryptRumble to Acquire Northern Data as Tether Commits $150 Million to Power AI PushExplains the all-stock deal for Ardent's parent and Tether's controlling stake and commitments.
• 2025-06-06 Pittsburgh Business Times (via WPXI)Ribbon cut on Ardent data center in McKees RocksCovers the ribbon cutting and Northern Data's choice to retrofit the building for speed.
• DatacenterDynamicsArdent closes on acquisition of data center in Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaReports the $7.12 million purchase price, the building's history and the 5 MW to 20 MW plan (published early 2024; exact date not shown).
• DatacenterDynamicsData center available for lease/sale in Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaDescribes the former Education Management Corp. data center when it was on the market, with 3.5 MW of power and a $9 million asking price (published 2023; exact date not shown).