Rowen Knowledge Community
Rowen Foundation, Inc
HR&A Advisors serves as the retained executive team for the Rowen Foundation, orchestrating the creation of a 2,000-acre innovation community in the Atlanta Metro Region that will connect research, education, and industry across agriculture, medicine, and environmental science. As the operational leadership for this transformative project, HR&A directs all aspects of development including real estate strategy, foundation operations, tenant attraction, board governance, and public-private partnerships spanning Georgia’s higher education institutions and government entities.
The firm’s comprehensive approach began with detailed economic and fiscal impact analyses that established the quantitative foundation for the project’s implementation. These feasibility studies projected development absorption scenarios and quantified the substantial regional economic benefits, providing crucial evidence that secured stakeholder support and informed strategic decisions about phasing, infrastructure investments, and target industry sectors. This data-driven methodology established credibility with public officials, potential tenants, and community stakeholders while creating a roadmap for implementation.
Through integrated development management and strategic partnership building, HR&A has successfully established the institutional framework and momentum for this ambitious project. The team’s leadership across multiple dimensions—from governance structures to infrastructure planning—has positioned Rowen to deliver significant economic impact throughout Georgia while creating a nationally significant innovation district that bridges critical knowledge sectors and catalyzes regional transformation.
Projects
HR&A’s work is as multifaceted as the communities
we serve. Explore HR&A’s impact across the globe.
HR&A guided the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) in developing and implementing a comprehensive innovation district strategy that bridges research capabilities with industry collaboration. We delivered a strategic roadmap with clear governance structures, partnership frameworks, and phased real estate development priorities that position MUSC to accelerate healthcare innovation while generating significant economic impact for the Charleston region.
HR&A Advisors serves as the retained executive team for the Rowen Foundation, orchestrating the creation of a 2,000-acre innovation community in the Atlanta Metro Region that will connect research, education, and industry across agriculture, medicine, and environmental science. As the operational leadership for this transformative project, HR&A directs all aspects of development including real estate strategy, foundation operations, tenant attraction, board governance, and public-private partnerships spanning Georgia's higher education institutions and government entities.
The Knight Foundation engaged HR&A to evaluate their philanthropic investments in downtown revitalization across nine U.S. cities. Through comprehensive data collection and analysis, HR&A assessed the effectiveness of the Foundation’s priority grants, investigated the sustainability of supported organizations, and identified critical revitalization levers that could be applied to any city. This evaluation provided Knight Foundation with essential insights to guide future investment decisions and promote equitable economic development.
HR&A guided the Moffitt Cancer Center in master planning and implementing SPEROS FL, Moffitt’s transformative 775-acre innovation campus outside of Tampa, Florida. This strategic advisory work supported Moffitt, Florida’s only National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center, in expanding its clinical, research, educational, and treatment activities, directly advancing its mission of preventing and curing cancer through a cohesive, purpose-built campus environment.
