A Project Unlike Any Other: Rowen

Published in the July/August Edition of James Magazine [pages 35-37].

Rowen is a project like no other in Georgia. Built on the foundations of families that owned its pastoral 2,000 acres for generations, the vision for Rowen is simple: to uplift the people of Georgia through education, research and innovation—and address the global challenges that face us all.

Nestled in a pristine natural environment with access to trails, river frontage, parks, and open space, Rowen offers acres of opportunity capable of holding over 22 million square feet of offices and labs, eventually contributing 100,000 new jobs to Georgia over a 30-year span.

Future Rowen tenants will include research centers, corporate offices, and innovative enterprises of all shapes and sizes. They will seek opportunities to collaborate on challenges large and small that impact Georgia and beyond. The common thread among them: they are expected to be innovators in medicine, agriculture, the environment, and the industries that converge around and emerge from those fields. Rowen’s location along University Parkway between Athens, Atlanta, and Gainesville offers access to a diverse, highly educated workforce that is within easy reach of many of the region’s key job, academic, and innovation centers.

Since its launch in 2020, the Rowen Foundation—the 501(c)(4) owner of this visionary project—has been working diligently to build the foundation for growth with three focus areas:

1. Leadership: The Foundation has established a top-tier board of directors representing some of Georgia’s leading education institutions and industries. These directors, along with Foundation leadership, have established the core principles and values that will drive Rowen into the future. The board includes SG Contracting President Sachin Shailendra (Chair), Emory University’s Dr. Deborah Watkins Bruner, Georgia Power CEO Kim Greene, original Rowen landowner Sam Hinton, University of Georgia Provost Dr. S. Jack Hu, Georgia Gwinnett College President Dr. Jann Joseph, Georgia Tech VP Bert Reeves, Spelman College Provost Dr. Pamela Scott-Johnson, and former congressional advisor Arthur Tripp.
2. Partnerships: The Foundation has worked to form partnerships across the University System of Georgia and the Technical College System of Georgia, as well as the state’s HBCUs and other private institutions. Rowen recently launched its Living Lab Platform, creating real estate and programmatic partnerships with the University of Georgia, Emory University, Georgia Gwinnett College, Gwinnett Technical College, and various industry partners. These projects emphasize Rowen’s three core drivers: agriculture, medicine, and the environment. The Foundation acts as a convener of students and faculty around critical topics like energy, sustainability, and artificial intelligence, while using its 2,000 acres as a platform for learning and collaboration. The Living Lab is just the beginning of Rowen’s role as a neutral convener for higher education institutions and a bridge for diverse industries drawn to Georgia’s strong business climate, workforce, and innovation ecosystem.
3. Stewardship: The Foundation is completing sustainable “complete streets” infrastructure, including roadways, native landscaping, stormwater and sewer systems, smart city technology, and green infrastructure attractive to global industry. As Rowen begins to activate its public and private spaces, it views itself as a steward of the land’s inherited beauty rather than a traditional developer. Covenants and development guidelines require future growth to respect nature, and hundreds of acres will be preserved and connected to a regional trail system. The name “Rowen” itself, which originally referred to a second harvest from an existing hay field, is a nod to honoring the land’s legacy. The team is committed to cultivating this land to serve future generations of Georgians.

As the Foundation wraps up the first phase of on-site infrastructure—opening more than 800 acres for vertical development—plans are underway for the first building: the Rowen Convergence Center. This space will house the Rowen Foundation and provide offices for higher education, industry, innovation, and community partners. It will also serve as a space for the Georgia Department of Economic Development to host industry prospects and bring together regional leaders, further cementing Georgia’s position as a top state for business and expanding investment along the University Parkway corridor.

Rowen is expanding its partnerships beyond regional universities. It is collaborating with the Georgia Chamber and Emory University’s Center for AI Learning to launch a statewide artificial intelligence education and training initiative. As Georgia’s first community-based AI training program, the initiative aims to demystify AI and empower Georgians with the tools and confidence to navigate an evolving technological landscape.

Rowen leaders also anticipate a deeper relationship with the Georgia Research Alliance (GRA), a national model for academic and industry collaboration and a longtime pillar of Georgia’s innovation economy. Under the leadership of new CEO Tim Denning, GRA continues to support top-tier scholars whose work aligns with Rowen’s mission.

At its core, Rowen is about convergence. Whether through university partnerships, the Living Lab, or statewide initiatives around AI and e-mobility, the goal is to bring together diverse perspectives and talented Georgians to spark innovation. The physical site itself will reflect this with integrated parks, trails, cafes, gathering spaces, and collaborative environments. The Rowen Village will offer a live-work-learn-play experience and act as a vibrant hub for innovation. Even before new buildings rise, Rowen is hosting its second Convergence Summit in Atlanta this fall, uniting cross-industry leaders to make connections and generate new ideas.

Rowen is also deeply engaged in Georgia’s broader economic development. Foundation leaders are traveling globally with state and regional partners to attract investment and forge new partnerships—in Germany, at the BIO conference in San Diego, and soon in Ireland. Their mission is to grow opportunities for Georgians and expand the state’s innovation footprint.

The Foundation is also working with the Carl Vinson Institute of Government to better understand and activate the vast, diverse talent pool in the surrounding region. Together, they are focusing not only on today’s workforce, but on the future—ensuring today’s students are ready for tomorrow’s jobs and that those opportunities exist in Georgia for generations to come.

So what’s next? Rowen is calling on innovators, businesses, nonprofits, and others ready to tackle global challenges with Georgia-grown talent. With strong leadership, growing partnerships, and open land ready for development, the Foundation is now focused on recruiting businesses that will benefit the entire state.

Want to learn more or help spread the word? Visit www.rowenlife.com to explore the land, the vision, and the opportunity.