A former South Works steel site will be transformed into a state-of-the-art quantum computing campus. The 128-acre campus will be anchored by PsiQuantum, a Silicon Valley startup with ambitious plans to build the world’s largest quantum computer. PsiQuantum’s facility, spanning about 300,000 square feet, is expected to employ up to 150 people within five years.

The U.S. Steel South Works plant, once a powerhouse of Chicago’s industrial sector, operated from 1882 until its closure in 1992. At its peak, the plant employed around 20,000 workers and was a key player in the production of steel for various industries, including construction, automotive, and military. The plant’s closure marked the end of an era for Chicago’s steel industry, leaving behind a vast, unused industrial site.

The centerpiece of the new project is a unique super-cold computing facility, replacing the blast furnaces that once defined the site. Quantum computers require parts to operate at extremely cold temperatures, near absolute zero, similar to the conditions of outer space. This necessitates large-scale supplies of helium and nitrogen, along with massive amounts of power and water, making the Chicago site an ideal location for PsiQuantum.

This historic investment breathes new life into a neighborhood that has been underserved for years. It’s been over 30 years since the site was last in use, and now, the people of Chicago’s South Side have the opportunity to once again lead the world in technological advancements. This project adds to Chicago’s legacy of world-changing events, from the first sustained nuclear reaction to the contributions of Fermilab, Argonne National Laboratory, and our prestigious universities.

This is the moment Chicago has been waiting for. Cheers to a future where time travel seems possible!

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