IBM to Expand Quantum Computing at Poughkeepsie Campus
The new facilities hope to house IBM’s Starling quantum computer by 2029. Photo by Dan Farber via Flickr
Computer giant IBM has unveiled plans to expand its quantum computing center at the South Road Campus in Poughkeepsie.
The Dutchess County government announced the expansion on Facebook, sharing that it would consist of approximately 511,000 square feet in construction. It will bring IBM’s total Poughkeepsie footprint, when complete, to between 3.5 million and 3.9 million square feet across 45 buildings.
The new facilities will house IBM’s Starling quantum computer, a next-generation, large-scale quantum computer, by 2029.
“It may position the Hudson Valley as a rising tech hub that drives research and innovation in sectors classical computers are not apt to handle,” said Ryan Munger ‘25, a Z hardware performance engineer at IBM.
These quantum computers are expected to perform 20,000 times more operations than today’s quantum computers. Chris Algozzine, senior professional lecturer of computer science, explained that this is because quantum bits, or qubits, are designed to represent vast amounts of data simultaneously, allowing the system to test many different solutions at once.
“Every computer that exists in the world today [has] the same architecture and uses the concept of 0s or 1s to represent data and perform operations,” said Algozzine. “Quantum computers have ‘qubits’ that can represent a zero and a one at the same time… instead of having to check every logical choice one at a time, if you had enough qubits, you could check all the logical choices at the same time.”
The expansion will not only exponentially increase computing speeds but also bring significant economic growth.
According to Mid-Hudson News, the projected workforce for the new facilities is approximately 200 employees.
McKinsey & Company also forecasted that quantum technologies have the potential to create an economic value in the market of up to $2 trillion by 2035.
Munger said the impact of this technology will be felt in other fields as well.
“We will see the impacts of quantum in medicine, materials science, climate modeling, finance and more in the coming years,” he said.
Many responded to the news with skepticism, commenting on the Facebook post about their distrust in the company following the massive layoffs in the early 1990s, which had shaped the local economy for years prior. Others were concerned about the energy consumption and environmental impact the new facilities will have.
Mid-Hudson News also reported that concerns regarding the facility's electricity demand were echoed during the Town of Poughkeepsie Planning Board review of the proposal, citing the large amount of power needed to chill the processors.
“Quantum computers must remain supercooled (near absolute zero) to perform at their best,” said Munger. “This requires resources such as helium and large quantities of electricity.”
In response, IBM representatives stated that the existing grid capacity, supported by two dedicated Central Hudson substations, should be sufficient through 2030. The board has requested independent verification and long-term projections.
IBM’s next submission, expected in May, will include updated site plans, traffic and environmental studies, a greenhouse gas assessment and a community benefit and fiscal impact assessment.