In 2018, the Gwinnett County Commission and Department of Water Resources engaged DaVinci Development to consult on their innovative project,  The Water Tower – Global Innovation Hub at Gwinnett near Buford, Georgia.  After several years of planning, it was announced that the construction costs and size of the proposed project had swelled considerably. DaVinci Development was tapped to examine and adjust the project program and budget and to create a development strategy to ensure long-term sustainability.

The team helped re-establish appropriate programming goals and validated each project element with a control budget and overall project schedule. This effort led to a pause and re-set of initial planning activities and a refocused program that best aligned the project’s scope with the original mission. The DaVinci Development team was further engaged in 2019 to articulate the County’s concept and requirements for the campus. The team managed a solicitation process for an architect, engineer, general contractor, surveyor, civil engineer, and due diligence specialists. In 2020, the team was again contracted to lead a strategy for engaging a development partner to develop a Build-to-Suit building on the campus. DaVinci Development’s initial work with Gwinnett County to refine the project definition led to a successful search for an architect and the selection of Greshem Smith in that role to bring to life the vision for this innovative, non-profit center designed to reimagine the future of water. Construction began in July 2020 on the first phase of the project which included a 55,000 sq. ft., three-story building with office and collaboration spaces, classroom and meeting spaces, a large multi-function space, and multiple research laboratories. The Water Tower positions Gwinnett County at the forefront of water research for decades to come.