On Sept. 22, Georgia State University will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of its new 155,000-square-foot Research Tower. Located off Decatur Street and adjacent to the Petit Science Center and Research Science Center, the nine-story facility is designed to support cutting-edge research, interdisciplinary collaboration and innovative teaching on the university's downtown Atlanta Campus.

“The Research Tower is more than a new building. It is a launchpad for discovery,” said M. Brian Blake, president of Georgia State University. “By investing in this facility, we are strengthening the path forward for our students, our research and our state. We’re excited to see the progress this space will unlock.”

The Research Tower offers classrooms, a large lecture space and teaching labs on the first two floors, and the middle floors will house research space for faculty, including researchers from the university’s Institute for Biomedical Sciences. The top-most floors are currently set up for future expansion.

Over the past decade, Georgia State has invested more than $2 billion in research expenditures, with annual research expenditures nearly tripling since 2010. This continued growth has increased demand for modern research facilities to support expanding academic programs, attract top researchers and students, and advance collaborative scholarship.

“The Research Tower creates new opportunities for innovation and strengthens our ability to address the questions and challenges that matter most,” said Donald Hamelberg (Ph.D. '01), the university’s vice president for Research and Economic Development. “It provides the space needed to support the ambition and creativity of our highly active research community.”

In addition to serving students and faculty, the Research Tower further strengthens Georgia State's role as a driver of economic growth in the region. According to a study released by the University System of Georgia Aug. 13, Georgia State generated $3.48 billion in economic impact in fiscal year 2025, representing an 8.1 percent increase over the previous year. The new facility will help sustain that momentum by supporting further research activity, workforce development and innovation.

For 30 years, Georgia State has held the Carnegie Foundation’s highest ranking for research activity, a distinction shared by only a select group of universities in the nation. Through the Office of Research and Economic Development, the university continues to foster a research environment where collaboration thrives and researchers are empowered to translate and share knowledge that creates meaningful impact.

For more information about Georgia State University, visit www.gsu.edu. For more about Georgia State University research and its impact, visit research.gsu.edu.