Mar 3, 2026
Georgia Tech is set to advance one of its most significant academic and research infrastructure projects in recent years following Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp’s release of the amended budget for the current fiscal year. The budget includes $88 million for the design and construction of a new aerospace engineering building.
The investment represents a major step forward for both the Institute and the state of Georgia, reinforcing the state’s position as a national leader in aerospace innovation, workforce development, and economic growth.
The new Aerospace Engineering Building will serve as the home of Georgia Tech’s Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering, which is ranked No. 1 among public institutions and No. 2 overall by U.S. News & World Report. The building will feature advanced laboratories; dedicated space for flight research and propulsion systems; expanded instructional studios; and new collaborative areas for students, faculty, industry partners, and interdisciplinary research teams.
Georgia’s aerospace sector is one of the largest and fastest-growing in the nation, and it is expected to surpass $1 trillion by 2040. Companies range from major global manufacturers to startups choosing to locate and expand their operations in the region. The industry employs tens of thousands of Georgians and supports critical areas such as aviation, defense, spaceflight, and advanced manufacturing.
President Ángel Cabrera expressed gratitude for the state’s support and emphasized the impact of the investment on the Institute and Georgia’s long-term economic competitiveness.
“We are profoundly grateful to Gov. Kemp, Lt. Gov. Jones, Speaker Burns, the State House of Representatives, and the State Senate for their continued confidence in Georgia Tech and what we do to keep our state competitive,” said Ángel Cabrera, president of Georgia Tech. “This investment will help us create world-class facilities to drive innovation and develop the workforce that Georgia needs to stay at the forefront of the aerospace industry.”
The Delta Air Lines Foundation has also committed $5 million to the project.
Georgia Tech enrolls more than 2,300 students in aerospace engineering and leads $54.5 million in annual aerospace‑related research activity.
“The new facility will fundamentally reshape how we conduct research and educate our students,” said Mitchell Walker, William R.T. Oakes Jr. School Chair in the Guggenheim School. “Next-generation research spaces combined with hands-on learning environments and modern classrooms will enable work our current footprint can’t support. This investment propels our initiatives forward, sustains our leadership across all aerospace disciplines, and expands our industry collaboration.”
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Gov. Brian Kemp signs the amended FY26 budget on March 3.
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Gov. Kemp Signs the Amended FY26 Budget on March 3
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