The investment is set to bolster Georgia’s economy by creating more than 330 jobs across a nearly 80-acre sit
Gwinnett County, GA – March 30, 2026 – Colliers, a leading diversified professional services and investment management company, announced this week it has assisted UCB Pharma in selecting the location for its first U.S. biologics manufacturing facility. The process involved a comprehensive search across 12 states and more than 1,200 counties. The project represents the largest capital investment in Gwinnett County’s history and is expected to generate approximately $5 billion in economic impact for the region.
Colliers’ Site Selection handled the location strategy, site selection, incentive negotiations, and real estate brokerage for the Belgium-based company. The project was led by Anthony Burnett, Senior Vice President, Principal with support by Monty Turner, Senior Vice President, Principal Site Selection Services, and Caroline Burnette-Dervan, GIS Manager, Site Selection. Additional support was provided by Joe Fettermen of Colliers’ Life Sciences Practice Group and Yacine Malek, Associate Director Tenant Representation, from Colliers’ Belgium office.
Colliers utilized its proprietary analytics platform and applied thorough modeling across workforce, infrastructure, operating conditions, and long-term risks throughout the search process.
“Our data-driven approach with our specialized software quickly narrowed the field to 62 high-potential counties — accounting for roughly 5% of the total and ultimately reduced it down to 29 counties that best aligned with UCB’s strategic requirements,” said Burnett. “Following site
visits, detailed analysis and competitive negotiations, Georgia — and specifically a site in Gwinnett County — emerged as the clear choice four our client.”
From this broad perspective, Colliers guided UCB Pharma through a focused assessment of semi-finalist states and approximately a dozen qualified sites. Technical site visits involving Colliers, UCB Pharma, and its engineering teams evaluated site and infrastructure readiness, permitting, utilities, workforce, and community support. By the fourth quarter of 2025, the team narrowed the list of locations for executive site visits, moving forward to a structured RFP and negotiation phase.
Nicolas Debruyne, Head of US Engineering at UCB, added, “Our partnership with Colliers was critical to guide us through a very complex process. Their team skillfully managed a rigorous set of criteria and negotiations to achieve our desired outcome within a six-month timeframe.”
According to industry research from Fierce Pharma and Manufacturing Today, 13 pharmaceutical manufacturing projects valued at more than $2.0 billion have been announced in the U.S. since the beginning of 2024. The UCB Pharma investment stands out as one of the largest life sciences projects supported by Colliers and reflects a broader wave of manufacturing investments across the U.S. market. Governor Brian Kemp has described UCB’s decision as “one of the largest investments in state history,” and further reinforcing Georgia’s position as a national hub for biopharmaceutical innovation.
About Colliers
Colliers is a global diversified professional services and investment management company operating through three industry-leading businesses: Commercial Real Estate, Engineering, and Investment Management. With greater than a 30-year track record of consistent growth and strong recurring cash flows, we scale complementary, high-value businesses that provide essential services across the full asset lifecycle. Our unique partnership philosophy empowers exceptional leaders, preserves our entrepreneurial culture, and ensures meaningful inside ownership — driving strong alignment and sustained value creation for our shareholders. With $5.6 billion in annual revenues, 24,000 professionals, and $108 billion in assets under management, Colliers is committed to accelerating the success of our clients, investors, and people worldwide. Learn more at corporate.colliers.com
The full content of this article is only available to paid subscribers. If you are an active subscriber, please log in. To subscribe, please click here: SUBSCRIBE
