Gwinnett County lands UCB deal to anchor Rowen mini-city project
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Rowen's first phase would include a community center. Rendering: Courtesy of Rowen Foundation
A proposed mini-city taking shape in Gwinnett County took a major step toward becoming reality after successfully wooing a global biopharmaceutical giant.
Why it matters: UCB's investment is the largest in county history and accelerates plans for Rowen, a 2,000-acre research-focused "knowledge community" halfway between Atlanta and Athens.
Zoom in: The Brussels-based company's 460,000-square-foot manufacturing facility will hold more than 330 employees working on new autoimmune and neurological medicines, project officials said Tuesday.
- More than 1,000 construction workers will work on the project, which could take six to seven years to complete, officials said.
Catch up quick: The research and innovation hub near the city of Dacula aims to tweak the outdated office park model and cluster agriculture, medicine and environmental science companies on a single campus.
- Think Research Triangle Park on a more human scale, with extensive green and gathering spaces, located 35 miles from Atlanta.
The initiative is overseen by the Rowen Foundation, a nonprofit that includes officials from Georgia Tech, UGA and Emory on its board.
What they're saying: "This project will have a reach well beyond our immediate site, creating a wide variety of jobs and unique opportunities from Atlanta to Athens to Gainesville and beyond," Rowen Foundation CEO Mason Ailstock told Axios in a statement.
- "Our goal is to create a generational and sustainable impact, and having a partner like UCB is a great first step. But there is much more to come."
In the weeds: County officials have pledged more than $170 million in property tax breaks, waived permitting fees, and offered other incentives for the project, according to Gwinnett officials.
- The property is located inside an "innovation overlay zoning district," which allows Rowen officials to develop some buildings in the area without seeking county commissioners' approval.
What's next: Crews completed work installing a street network and infrastructure in 2025.
- This year, officials will break ground on the Convergence Center, a central building with spaces for research, performances, exhibitions and meetings.
- The project plays a key role in the proposed Rowen Village, a town center with retail, offices, multifamily housing and community space. More than 1,900 acres remain available for development.