Ascent Corporation, a leading provider of comprehensive data center solutions, has signed a FORTUNE 100 multimedia company as the first tenant of its Chicago CH2 Data Center. Ascent will provide a custom-built autonomous suite offering up to 4MW of critical power, which will enable the tenant to develop and expand its services within a highly efficient, completely autonomous data center space.

CH2 is a multi-tenant data center facility in Northlake, Illinois that offers autonomous Suites featuring customized infrastructure for companies seeking to build or lease data center space via Powered Shell or Turnkey Infrastructure. Each CH2 data center suite will provide its tenant with an independent secured entrance, dedicated shipping area, and non-shared infrastructure and support space. Tenants can choose from a wide range of design options, including power density, Tier level and operational services.

“Our ability to quickly sign the anchor tenant for CH2 is a real validation of our product and the continued strength of the greater Chicago market,” said Phil Horstmann, CEO, Ascent Corporation. “The autonomous suite model has proved to be very popular with customers that want a customized, build-to-suit data center space that takes advantage of hyper-entitled data center attributes. By letting our tenants control their Suites’ design parameters, we can provide them with a flexible, cost-effective custom data center solution that maximizes energy efficiency with no capital outlay through a turnkey lease.”

The Chicago market is one of the strongest in the country for data center services. The area’s connectivity options, zoning laws and supportive regulatory environment, as well as ample supplies of green energy, make Chicago one of the best infrastructure markets in the country. Power for the 54+ MW CH2 data center comes primarily from low-cost, low-carbon electricity from nuclear plants and other renewable energy facilities in the region.

In early 2010, Ascent secured substantial funding to complete the CH2 project and closed on property for the 250,000 square-foot facility. Construction for the initial tenant is expected to be complete by Spring 2011, and Ascent expects to invest approximately $75 million in mission critical equipment to support the current development. The company will continue to develop the site and is actively recruiting additional tenants in the coming months.