Flexibility and modular planning are at the core of the program and master plan

The Georgia Tech Research Institute is a nationally renowned applied research and development organization that develops state of the art technological solutions for the government and industry across the nation and around the world. To support the advance of their mission, GTRI has developed a new campus within an existing research and manufacturing facility that was purchased from Lockheed Martin at the Dobbins Air Force Base outside of Atlanta. The Cobb South Campus occupies approximately one-third of over 750,000 sf of existing office and industrial buildings. The facility brings together in this first phase nearly 500 researchers and technical support staff who are currently dispersed in multiple buildings over two campuses, creating new opportunities for synergy and collaboration. Understanding that current project staffing and facility requirements will be different in the near and distant future, flexibility and modular planning are at the core of the program and master plan. Included in the program for Phase I are over 400 work stations in private offices, shared offices and open plan areas. Office space is clustered around lab spaces, which provide bench-top workspace for electronic development and assembly, as well as secure computing centers. In addition, high bay space was developed within existing industrial warehouse space for large-scale assembly and technical integration projects. To support these programs, the site and existing buildings were modified to allow large tractor trailers to drive onto the lab floor for loading and unloading. Both 10-ton and 30-ton overhead bridge cranes were added to facilitate material flow within the high bay labs. While Phase I occupies only a portion of the massive complex, the master plan provides for flexibility and growth for full occupancy as project needs and staff growth dictate.