Boehringer Ingelheim’s Animal Health business is growing its Global Innovation capabilities with a $57 million investment in new and expanded facilities at the company’s Athens, Georgia site. The investment will increase laboratory space and bring additional research and development capabilities and activities, including 55 positions, to the site.

Construction began recently on a new 63,000-square-foot facility, located at 1730 Olympic Drive, that will connect two existing buildings currently housing laboratory and administrative space, along with a 5,000 square-foot expansion and partial renovation of existing Global Innovation facilities in Athens. These new facilities will support expanded Global Innovation activities, functions and headcount on the Athens site over the next several years, and enable new and more collaborative ways of working.

“Our new and expanded space was specifically designed to encourage closer connections between teams and colleagues. After working in a distanced or virtual manner for so many months, we all have a much greater appreciation for the power of both formal and spontaneous collaboration,” explained Caroline Belmont, US Head of Global Innovation. “The significant investment in expanding and enhancing our Athens Global Innovation site will provide not only a comfortable and flexible physical space that inspires collaboration, but also will bring many new tools and technologies to spark the innovation that will ultimately help us improve animal and human wellbeing.”

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Sustainability and collaboration have been considered throughout the design process. The new building and expansion will feature significant use of natural light in offices, laboratories and collaboration spaces, with floor to ceiling windows in many areas. It will make great use of outdoor space as well: the expansion will create a new courtyard, which will feature informal seating, landscaping, and covered areas including larger tables, seating and WIFI for outdoor meetings. A large atrium will provide flexible open working and collaboration spaces, including a coffee/snack area with comfortable spaces for informal gathering. Construction debris will be segregated to facilitate recycling or disposal as appropriate. ​The expansion and new facility are slated to be complete in Spring 2024.

The company has received support from the Georgia Department of Economic Development’s (GDEcD) Global Commerce team, in partnership with the Athens-Clarke County Economic Development Department and Georgia Power in the planning, infrastructure and execution of this project.

“Boehringer Ingelheim has been a fantastic member of our Georgia Life Sciences community, and we are so excited to see them continue to choose Georgia to grow,” said Georgia Governor Brian Kemp.

“Boehringer Ingelheim’s expansion in Athens-Clarke County demonstrates their ongoing commitment to innovation, engagement, and talent development in our community that reflects the company’s global leadership in animal and human health,” said Athens Mayor Kelly Girtz. “Boehringer Ingelheim recognizes the strength of Athens-Clarke County as a bioscience and research hub with vibrant quality of life, and we look forward to our continued collaboration.”

Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health employs more than 1,200 people in Georgia, including more than 500 at its U.S. headquarters in Duluth and hundreds more at a poultry vaccine-manufacturing site in Gainesville in addition to its vaccine-manufacturing and research site in Athens.

Media Contact

Chrissy Jones
Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health USA Inc.
U.S. Communications
Phone: (516) 527-5456
Email: christine.jones@boehringer-ingelheim.com