Orginally published on WSBtv.com
GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. — A local foundation announced on Monday that it plans to build a new hub in Gwinnett County for research and collaboration.
The Rowen Foundation announced the launch of the Rowen Convergence Center, a 10,000-square-foot facility for interdisciplinary collaboration, at the Rowen Convergence Summit held at the Woodruff Arts Center.
The Convergence Center is set to become the first vertical development in Georgia’s 2,000-acre Rowen knowledge community, providing state-of-the-art spaces for research, performance, exhibitions, and convenings. The groundbreaking for the project is expected in mid-2026.
“Through the years, both history and our Convergence Summit have shown that when talented people from a variety of disciplines come together, discovery accelerates,” said Mason Ailstock, President & CEO of Rowen Foundation. “With the Convergence Center, we are creating a home for that spirit year-round — ensuring Georgia becomes the place where the next generation of innovators, dreamers, and creators can thrive.”
The announcement was made before an audience of more than 200 scientists, artists, educators, and business leaders gathered for the third annual Summit, themed “The Science of Art in Discovery, Research & Innovation.”
###
Announcements
The Rowen Foundation today announced that President and CEO Mason Ailstock will step down after accepting a new opportunity. The Rowen Board of Directors is conducting a national search for Rowen's next president and CEO with the Board anticipating new leadership later this fall.
Blog
While Boston and San Francisco have long dominated the life sciences conversation, the Southeast is writing a new chapter, and Georgia is leading it. With 2,000 acres of preserved land for state-of-the-art facilities, labs, and collaboration spaces, Rowen is a compelling destination for biopharma and biotech industry investments that value collaborative learning, knowledge sharing, and transformative thinking.
Newsletters
Over the past three months, we’ve seen meaningful progress at Rowen—not just on site, but across the broader community. Our recent State of Rowen event was a defining moment, offering an opportunity to reflect on that shared progress and officially welcoming UCB to Gwinnett County following its $2 billion investment announcement.