Delaware pharma plant expects 900% more jobs than stalled data center, per square foot

Merck’s $1 billion biologics center and the proposed Project Washington data center show how differently large developments can translate into jobs, land use and environmental demands.

By: Holly Quinn

Outlets: Technical.ly

Published: September 8, 2026

Words: 537

Last Updated: 1 month, 2 weeks ago

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What’s the difference between a giant pharmaceutical plant and a hyperscale data center?

Both types of development can cost billions and reshape the communities around them. But the jobs they create and the demands they put on land, energy and the environment can look very different.

Delaware offers a case study.

Biopharmaceutical company Merck is building a $1 billion, 470,000-sq.-ft. biologics center in Wilmington. The company expects it to create more than …

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