Chicago Options Exchange Converted to Data Center

Legacy Investing and GI Partners redeveloped the historic trading site into a modern facility.

Updated on Oct. 10, 2026 in Data Centers

Isometric editorial illustration of a clean server rack array located inside a large, historical vaulted building with exposed architectural steel beams.
Legacy Investing and GI Partners have completed the conversion of the historic 400 S. LaSalle St. trading floor into a 33-megawatt data center. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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The former Chicago options exchange at 400 S. LaSalle St. has been transformed into a data center. The new facility provides 33 megawatts of power capacity to the local infrastructure.

Why it matters

This redevelopment highlights the ongoing industrial transition of former trading floor spaces in urban centers to support growing digital infrastructure demands.

The new data center at 400 S. LaSalle St. offers a total capacity of 33 megawatts. This specific power output marks the facility's capability to support high-density computing loads.

The players

Legacy Investing

This is a real estate investment firm that focuses on the acquisition and development of specialized commercial properties.

GI Partners

This is a private investment firm that specializes in the data infrastructure and real estate sectors.

The details

Legacy Investing and GI Partners led the efforts to repurpose the former trading complex. The project converted the physical space once used for options trading into a technical site tailored for data center operations.

Timeline

  1. October 9, 2026: The conversion project was publicly confirmed.

The Tech Race

The transformation follows the established pattern of the repurposing of former Chicago trading floors for high-tech industrial use. This project represents a broader shift where aging financial infrastructure is being retrofitted to meet modern requirements for data processing power.

Local residents and businesses may see changes in utility demand as the new facility reaches full operational capacity. This development potentially strengthens the local digital infrastructure necessary for hosting regional internet services.

The takeaway

Repurposing historical real estate for digital infrastructure is becoming a common strategy in major urban financial districts. Investors should monitor how similar legacy sites are adapted to support local technical demands.

Further reading

Learn more about the local industry at Chicago Data Centers.

Source note: This article includes information reported by Bloomberg Business.

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Do you support converting vacant downtown office buildings into large-scale data centers in your area?