R
elated Midwest has secured approval to build a 128-acre quantum computing campus on Chicago's South Side. The Illinois Quantum & Microelectronics Park, located on the former U.S. Steel South Works site, is set to become a hub for research and innovation in quantum computing. The project, which will be developed in partnership with CRG and the University of Illinois, aims to advance quantum computing research and create new opportunities for the city.

    The campus will feature a 458,000-square-foot facility as part of its first phase, with PsiQuantum committing $1 billion as the anchor tenant. This investment is expected to bring significant economic benefits to the area, including 150 permanent jobs initially created by the project. Local officials have expressed strong support for the initiative, recognizing its potential to revitalize an area that has faced economic hardship since the closure of the U.S. Steel mill in the 1990s.

    However, local community groups are urging developers to agree on a community benefits package that ensures access to well-paying jobs, affordable housing, and preserved green space. The broader South Works site, spanning 440 acres, is slated for redevelopment with potential for 59.3 million square feet of commercial and residential space. Federal support includes $140 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Defense's Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency to establish a quantum-testing facility on the campus.