XYZ Reality expands Applied Digital AI campus work

XYZ Reality has expanded its partnership with Applied Digital for construction delivery work across additional AI Factory campuses in North Dakota, including two new sites known as Polaris Forge 1 and Polaris Forge 2.

The new work covers Polaris Forge 1 in Ellendale and Polaris Forge 2 near Harwood. Applied Digital said the two campuses represent 450MW of critical IT load across three hyperscale buildings. The companies said the expanded scope brings the total capacity supported by XYZ Reality across Applied Digital's North Dakota portfolio to more than 600MW.

Applied Digital already uses XYZ Reality at an existing Ellendale facility. The companies said the expanded partnership builds on that deployment and extends the same construction oversight approach across the new sites.

The companies positioned the North Dakota campuses as part of a broader build-out of facilities designed for AI and high performance computing workloads. Applied Digital described its AI Factory model as focused on placing high-density compute in regions with available power and cooler climates.

North Dakota sites

Applied Digital said North Dakota offers conditions suited to large-scale AI and HPC infrastructure. It highlighted power availability and cooler ambient temperatures as factors that influence cooling demand at such facilities.

The companies also pointed to delivery constraints in the region. They cited remote access and limited labour availability as challenges for large construction programmes.

XYZ Reality said its platform provides progress tracking, quality validation and risk forecasting for construction teams. It said teams use the system when access to sites is limited and when schedules require fast-track builds.

Delivery model

The expanded partnership establishes what the companies described as a unified delivery model across Applied Digital's North Dakota portfolio. Applied Digital linked that approach to its stated aim of a repeatable blueprint for AI and HPC campuses.

The companies did not disclose the financial terms of the expanded partnership. They also did not give a timetable for delivery across the Polaris Forge sites.

David Mitchell, Founder & CEO, XYZ Reality, said: "We're thrilled to extend our partnership with Applied Digital. Ellendale proved what's possible when you combine disciplined construction oversight with real-time data. The opportunity to replicate that precision across Polaris Forge creates a scalable delivery framework - one that strengthens performance today while compounding value across every future site."

Applied Digital framed the use of the platform as a way to standardise how multiple parties manage quality checks and track build progress. The company also said the platform helps teams identify issues earlier in the construction cycle.

"XYZ Reality is an incredibly enabling service for our general contractor partners and project teams. It provides the entire build team with a shared, real-time way to quality-check work, track production and address issues early - helping projects stay aligned as they're built, not after the fact. That level of collaboration is essential as we scale our AI Factory developments," said Brad Barton, Vice President of Construction, Applied Digital.

XYZ Reality said it works with project controls and augmented reality tools aimed at mission-critical construction programmes. Applied Digital said it expects capacity across its North Dakota portfolio to increase as additional campuses move through development.