February 24, 2025 — Georgia State University broke ground Wednesday on its new 155,000-square-foot Research Tower off Decatur Street on the university’s downtown Atlanta Campus. The state-of-the-art facility, set to be completed in 2026, will provide updated laboratories, flexible research space and modern teaching environments designed to foster innovation and collaboration.
GSU and state officials break ground on Research Tower at Georgia State University. Source: GSU
The nine-story Research Tower represents a crucial step forward in Georgia State’s strategic commitment to research and innovation and to increasing placemaking efforts in the downtown community.
Georgia State President M. Brian Blake, who delivered comments at the groundbreaking ceremony for the building January 15, remarked:
This is more than just a physical space. This building expands our capacity for discovery and learning both at Georgia State University and in the Atlanta area. We’re grateful for the support that’s helped make it a reality.
Also on hand for the groundbreaking event were Gov. Brian Kemp, Georgia House Speaker Jon Burns, Board of Regents Chairman T. Dallas Smith, University System of Georgia Chancellor Sonny Perdue, and Georgia State Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs Nicolle Parsons-Pollard.
As a highly active R1 research university, research expenditures at Georgia State have more than doubled in recent years, growing from just over $91 million in 2012 to over $215 million in 2022. This growth highlights the increasing demand for research space to support Georgia State’s expanding academic programs and knowledge community.
In addition to its academic and research goals, the new Research Tower will further strengthen Georgia State’s role in driving economic growth in the region. Georgia State University contributed $3.2 billion to the metro Atlanta economy in fiscal year 2023, according to a recent study prepared for the University System of Georgia.
According to GSU’s Facilities Management Services Major Projects page, the New Research Tower was designed by HOK and is being constructed by Brasfield & Gorrie.
Learn more about Georgia State’s Strategic Plan at GSU.
