Construction begins this month on landmark state project in Augusta
New South Construction Company, an Atlanta-based general contracting firm, announced today that it broke ground on the Hull McKnight Georgia Cyber Innovation and Training Center in Augusta during a ceremony on the Augusta University Riverfront Campus on July 19.
The $60 million project, which is being fast-tracked and is already ahead of schedule, is slated to open July 10, 2018. The center will consist of a 177,000-square-foot building on Augusta University’s campus, including a parking deck with over 500 spaces. To set the pace for a timely completion, interior and exterior planning for the building has already been finalized. The Georgia Technology Authority (GTA) is overseeing construction of the facility.
“Cyber security is a burgeoning industry and New South is excited to be part of this project and begin work,” said Adam Cobb, New South’s project manager for the center. “With the quick turnaround, it is important that we maintain our tight schedule and utilize local subcontractors. So far, we are off to a great start.”
To meet the completion date, New South, in conjunction with the City of Augusta, held an informational session in May for local subcontractors on how they can become involved with the project.
Calvin Rhodes, the executive director of GTA also sees the value that local subcotractors offer the project. “Local firms are able to spend less time on the road and more time on the job,” he said. “That will help us move through our aggressive schedule more smoothly.”
The facility will house Augusta University’s Cyber Institute and Augusta Technical College programs, as well as research and development and incubator space. Additionally, the center will house the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s new cyber crime unit, with space available for other tenants too.
“This invaluable resource will put Georgia at the pinnacle of efforts to enhance American cybersecurity in the public and private arenas with a resource unlike any other in the country,” Gov. Nathan Deal said during his State of the State address earlier this year.
GTA currently manages the delivery of IT infrastructure and managed network services to 85 Executive Branch agencies and managed network services to 1,300 state and local governments entities. GTA promotes an enterprise approach to technology by establishing policies, standards and guidelines based on industry best practices and federal guidelines. Information security is a particular focus for GTA.