Five racks of computer servers hummed in a futuristic yet industrial-looking classroom at Atlanta Technical College, south of downtown.

Cool blue-white LEDs lined the room’s windows, while yellow heavy-duty power outlets hung from the ceiling over rows of desks where students will learn how to maintain the servers whirring behind them.

A bevy of elected officials, and Microsoft and real estate leaders gathered around Victoria Seals, the college’s president, as she cut a ceremonial ribbon to officially open the school’s new Microsoft Datacenter Academy on Wednesday.

“We are living in a time where the emphasis is on artificial intelligence. However, what we know is that behind every advancement in AI is the power of HI, human intelligence,” Seals said before the ribbon-cutting.

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The Microsoft Data Center Academy at Atlanta Technical College opened Wednesday, May 20, 2026. (Ben Hendren for the AJC)

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Data center jobs and training

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The construction of ServerFarm's new Data Center in Covington was pretty far along six months ago. (Miguel Martinez/AJC 2025)

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Victoria Seals says the Microsoft Data Center Academy at Atlanta Technical College covers data center operations, networking, cybersecurity and more. (Ben Hendren for the AJC)

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