The rapid expansion of data centres driven by artificial intelligence is creating new housing challenges for large construction workforces. To accommodate hundreds or even thousands of temporary workers building these massive AI facilities, developers are increasingly turning to temporary housing clusters known as “man camps.” These camps function as short-term residential villages designed to support workers in remote locations where permanent housing is limited.
The concept of man camps originally became common in remote oil fields, where workers needed nearby accommodation during large industrial projects. Now, the model is being used again as the demand for AI infrastructure rises. In rural Dickens County, Texas, a former Bitcoin mining facility is being converted into a 1.6 gigawatt AI data centre. According to a financial news report, workers involved in the project are staying in gray housing units that offer facilities such as a gym, a laundromat, game rooms, and a cafeteria where steaks are grilled on demand.
A hospitality services company, Target Hospitality, has secured multiple contracts worth a combined $132M to build and operate the housing camp for the project. The facility is expected to eventually accommodate more than 1,000 workers involved in the data centre construction. The company sees the rapid expansion of data centre infrastructure as a major business opportunity. Chief commercial officer Troy Schrenk described the demand by saying it is “the largest, most actionable pipeline I’ve ever seen.”
However, the company’s involvement in other operations has also drawn scrutiny. Target Hospitality owns the Dilley Immigration Processing Centre, a facility that holds families detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Court filings have alleged serious issues at the centre, including claims that food served there contained worms and mold. The filings also state that children held at the facility did not receive proper accommodation for allergies and special dietary needs.
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