Equifax to decommission data center outside Atlanta, convert it to office space

US credit reporting agency Equifax is converting a data center room outside Atlanta, Georgia, into office space.

The City of Alpharetta last week announced that Equifax was investing $25 million to expand its Alpharetta campus, located in Fulton County.

The expansion includes the renovation of the third floor of the JV White 1 building, converting it from a data center into collaborative office space. Renovations are expected to begin later this year.

The space totals more than 65,000 sq ft (6,040 sqm), Alpharetta economic development director Charlie Jewell told BizJournal. The company has been present in Alpharetta since around 1989.

“The Equifax Alpharetta campus plays a critical role in our global innovation strategy,” said Mark W. Begor, Equifax CEO. “We are grateful for the support from the City of Alpharetta and believe that this expansion will help us to continue attracting top-tier tech talent going forward.”

The project, at Equifax’s multi-building campus at 1505 Windward Concourse, will create capacity for nearly 250 new jobs, bringing total full-time employees at the site to approximately 1,660. The project will feature updated workspaces, equipment, furniture, and fixtures, as well as improvements to the on-site parking infrastructure.

The new staff will support the organization’s continued shift to its Equifax Cloud (aka EFX Cloud), the firm’s new technology infrastructure. The $3 billion project, started back in 2018, has seen the company switch to a cloud-first approach to its infrastructure, retiring numerous data centers and mainframes globally. The company is a known Google Cloud customer.

According to its last environmental report, Equifax decommissioned 10 data centers in 2024, for a total of 36 since 2019.

“Our remaining data centers make up approximately 31 percent of our total scope 1 and 2 emissions,” the firm said in its 2023 climate report. “As we continue to decommission data centers, we expect this number to continue to decline.”

Atlanta-headquartered Equifax does, however, look set to retain some non-cloud data center space, and is making upgrades there.

“As we progress through our cloud transformation, we are also taking steps to more efficiently manage our remaining on-site data centers, such as optimizing our HVAC systems and implementing cold aisle containment processes,” the company noted.

Equifax is one of the three largest consumer credit reporting agencies, along with Experian and TransUnion. Founded in 1899, it collects and aggregates information on more than 800 million individual consumers and more than 88 million businesses worldwide. The company suffered a major data breach in 2017.

“Alpharetta continues to show why it’s one of the most desirable places for companies to invest and grow,” said Robb Pitts, chairman of the Fulton County Board of Commissioners. “We’re proud that Equifax has chosen to expand here, and Fulton County is fortunate to have great cities like Alpharetta that create strong communities and attract world-class businesses.”

“We’re thrilled that Equifax continues to see Alpharetta as a strategic location for investment and talent,” added Jack Nugent, chair of the Development Authority of Alpharetta. “This project aligns perfectly with our vision of fostering a dynamic innovation economy.”