James MagazineJames_July-August_2026_web - Flipbook - Page 39
A CONVERGENCE CENTER
AI TRAINING PROGRAM
Another key area where the
Rowen team has been busy involves work to complete property
roadways, native landscaping,
stormwater and sanitary sewer
infrastructure. This is coupled with
smart city technology and green
infrastructure highly sought after
by global industry. Ailstock says
“our covenants and guidelines require that future development take
nature into account, and as our site
is built out over the next 30 years,
hundreds of acres will be preserved
and connected to the greater regional trail system to be enjoyed by
tenants and guests.”
Along with the first phase of
site infrastructure development,
opening more than 800 acres for
vertical development, plans are
underway for the central building
on the site: A Convergence Center.
Shailendra told this writer that
the Center “is envisioned to be the
home of the Rowen Foundation and
In addition to the region’s
core universities, the Foundation
continues to work on establishing
new partnerships. For example,
it is partnering with the Georgia
Chamber and Emory University’s
Center for AI Learning on a statewide education and training effort
around artificial intelligence. This
is Georgia’s first community-based
AI training program, and it aims
to pave the way for considering
ideas, guardrails and progress in
this ever-evolving new industry.
“At every turn, expect convergence to be a theme for Rowen.
Our partnerships with our universities and the Georgia Research
Authority, our Living Lab platform,
and our support for statewide
networks, programming and initiatives around AI and e-mobility, all
focus on leveraging talented Georgians and diverse perspectives to
drive innovation,” Ailstock says.
SACHIN SHAILENDRA
BOARD CHAIRMAN, ROWEN FOUNDATION
space offered for higher education,
industry, innovation and community partners to locate and network
with one another. The Convergence Center will also provide
space for the Georgia Department
of Economic Development to host
industry prospects and convene
regional economic development
leaders as it works to ensure
Georgia remains the best state
to do business. It will also lure
investment to the Highway 316/
University Parkway corridor that
connects Athens and Atlanta.”
J U LY/AU GUST 2026
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