Georgia Institute of Technology - Regional Engineering Program

Georgia Tech wanted to increase its area of impact and leverage its brand equity by developing a new regional campus in Savannah, Georgia. The facilities would house the Georgia Tech Regional Engineering Program (GTREP) and the Advanced Technology Development Center (ATDC).

Helping the University avoid the traditional institutional bureaucracy surrounding facility investment, TUFF provided short-term equity to accelerate the project. The remaining funds consisted of $24 million in tax-exempt bonds and a traditional commercial loan. A portion of the campus was built on a 47-acre site conveyed to Georgia Tech for the creation of GTREP.  The balance of the facilities were constructed on adjacent land.  In total, the facilities include three laboratories, a classroom and an administrative building.

Due to available capital from State appropriations, Georgia Tech purchased one of the facilities from TUFF at construction completion.  TUFF currently owns the other two facilities, totaling 100,000 square feet, and leases them to the Board of Regents.  At the end of the lease term, TUFF plans to convey the property to the State.

Initially, the campus was designed to host the initial two years of a student's education prior to transferring to the Atlanta campus for the balance of their degree.  However, due to the success of the program, a student can earn a four year bachelors degree without leaving Savannah.