This Week's Atlanta Deal Sheet: U.S. Soccer Nets New HQ Complex In Fayetteville

Chick-fil-A Chairman Dan Cathy and Fayette County economic development leaders scored a big win this week when the U.S. Soccer Federation announced it had selected a sprawling site next to Trilith Studios, headed by Cathy, for its new $228M headquarters and training facility. 

Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp announced Thursday that USSF would create 440 new jobs via the project. The complex will serve as the national training and competition center for all of its men’s, women’s, youth and extended national teams, moving from its current headquarters in Chicago. 

“This project will solidify Georgia's position at the forefront of this increasingly popular sport, from the success of our own Atlanta United team to the FIFA World Cup 2026 events in a few short years,” Kemp said in a release.

The USSF Board of Governors on Thursday approved the purchase of 200 acres on the west side of Veterans Parkway in Fayette County, about 25 miles south of Downtown Atlanta, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. The complex will include a 200K SF facility offering high-performance facilities, locker rooms, meeting rooms and headquarters space, 100K SF of indoor courts and 12 soccer fields, according to the Atlanta Business Chronicle. 

Georgia Department of Economic Development Senior Project Manager John Soper led the team in negotiating incentives for the project. USSF plans to break ground on the complex in the spring.

DEVELOPMENT

McCarthy Building Cos. delivered the 70K SF Poultry Science Building at the University of Georgia. The facility, part of the College of Agriculture and Environmental Science, includes lab space, biosafety labs, offices, cold storage, meeting rooms, classrooms and an avian vivarium.

PERSONNEL

Wood Partners promoted Kelly Keech and Lynne Churillo from vice presidents to senior vice presidents of operations. An employee since 2013, Keech helped expand Wood’s presence in Texas and Colorado. Churillo, who has been with Wood for six years, aided the firm’s expansion in Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, Illinois, Baltimore and Washington, D.C.

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Berkadia has tapped Mike Cale as senior vice president of capital markets, leading third-party relationships for the firm, including those with life insurance companies, debt funds and banks. Prior to Berkadia, Cale was co-head of debt investments with Pimco Prime Real Estate. He has originated $15B in debt and equity over his 20-year career.

Cale will be located in the Atlanta office and report to Hilary Provinse, executive vice president of production and capital markets.

LEASING

Kyungshin America Corp. leased 136K SF at Savannah Gateway Industrial Hub, a 2,600-acre multimodal industrial complex near the Port of Savannah. The firm will distribute automotive components for Hyundai Motor Group’s electric vehicle plant.

Savannah Gateway Industrial Hub is a public-private partnership between the Effingham County Industrial Development Authority and The Broe Group and its transportation affiliate, OmniTRAX.

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Murata Electronics North America, which makes ceramic-based electrical components, inked a 50K SF long-term lease for two floors at 100 City View, a 250K SF office tower at 3330 Cumberland Blvd. The firm is moving from 35K SF at 2200 Lake Park Drive in Smyrna.

Pope & Land Enterprises Managing Director Jennifer Koontz, Director Frances Land Klee and associate Sam Neel represented the landlord, Granite Properties. Mass Realty principal Bill Mass brokered the deal for Murata.

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Womble Bond Dickinson inked a 28K SF office lease at Midtown Union, the recently delivered 26-story office tower off Spring Street in Midtown. The firm is relocating from 271 17th St. in Atlantic Station, where it leased double the space, the Atlanta Business Chronicle reported. 

JLL Senior Managing Director Brooke Dewey and Executive Managing Director Adam Viente represented landlord Granite Properties, while Newmark Senior Managing Director Taylor Senter represented the law firm.

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Specialty insurance company Amwins renewed and expanded its lease from 94K SF to 114K SF at 3630 Peachtree, the 33-story, 439K SF tower in Buckhead owned by Granite Properties. 

Transwestern Executive Managing Director Greg Frankum, Senior Managing Director Matt Spickard and associate Ansley Chenault brokered the deal for the landlord, while CBRE Senior Vice President Jordan Buis and Ackerman & Co. Senior Vice President Gina DeRaffele represented Amwins.

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The Fulton County Board of Assessors renewed 38K SF at Tower 235, and the Social Security Administration renewed its 32K SF at Marquis One Tower, two of the six towers making up the Peachtree Center complex in Downtown Atlanta.

Transwestern Real Estate Services Senior Managing Directors Chip Roach, Stephen Clifton and Zach Wooten represented the landlord, SitusAMC, which took over the loan in 2022 from Banyan Street Capital.