Berkshire Hathaway’s Duracell Opens $56 Million Innovation Center in Atlanta

Duracell officially opened its new $56 million Global Innovation Center for Research and Development at Science Square Labs in Atlanta on October 6, 2026. The 83,000-square-foot facility anchors the battery manufacturer’s presence in Georgia, is expected to create 120 jobs, and serves as the central anchor for the company’s global battery technology innovation network.

Representatives from the State of Georgia, the City of Atlanta, and Georgia Tech joined Duracell for a ceremonial ribbon cutting at Science Square. The facility is located adjacent to Georgia Tech at 101 Nerem Street NW, uniting scientists, engineers, and cross-functional teams to accelerate battery innovation from concept to commercialization. The center links Duracell’s LaGrange manufacturing plant and Fairburn distribution center into an end-to-end state network.

Specialized Firms Execute Duracell R&D Lab Build-Out

Partners Real Estate represented Duracell in the transaction, while CBRE represented Trammell Crow Company. Perkins&Will, AHA Consulting Engineers, Walter P Moore, and Brasfield & Gorrie comprised the specialized design and construction team that carried out the intricate tenant fit-out.

An R&D lab build-out of this scale touches nearly every system in a building and requires every one of them to be exactly right, said Brasfield & Gorrie Vice President and Division Manager Scott Cooper. From specialized dry room systems to relocating hundreds of pieces of owner-furnished equipment across floors, the complexity was real. This kind of space directly supports Duracell’s work in Atlanta and beyond, and we’re glad our team could deliver that for them.

Leadership Perspectives on Regional Talent

Georgia has been a vital home for Duracell for decades, and expanding our footprint into Science Square was a natural next step in that partnership, said Roberto Mendez, Chief Executive Officer at Duracell. By positioning our teams within a thriving innovation ecosystem, we are giving our world-class R+D organization the platform, technology and collaborative environment they need to power the future.

Liben Hailu, Chief Technology Officer at Duracell, noted that the strategic placement allows the company to tap into a rich pipeline of diverse talent coming from Georgia Tech and neighboring research institutions.

Started in the 1920s, the Duracell brand was acquired by Berkshire Hathaway Inc. in 2016 and has grown into the leader in the primary battery market in North America. Situated next to the Midtown Atlanta campus of Georgia Tech, Science Square is an 18-acre, multi-phase mixed-use innovation district designed to feature approximately 1.8 million square feet of lab and office space alongside 500 residential units and 25,000 square feet of retail.

Berkshire Hathaway Corporate Structure

Berkshire Hathaway Inc. operates as a holding company with subsidiaries engaged in diverse business activities including insurance and reinsurance, utilities and energy, manufacturing, service, and retailing. Its segments comprise Insurance, Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF), Berkshire Hathaway Energy (BHE), Manufacturing, Service and Retailing, McLane Company (McLane), and Pilot Travel Centers (Pilot). The Insurance segment includes GEICO, Berkshire Hathaway Primary Group, and Berkshire Hathaway Reinsurance Group. The BNSF segment operates freight rail transportation systems, while the BHE segment offers regulated electricity and natural gas supply services alongside real estate brokerage activities. The Manufacturing segment produces and distributes industrial, building, and consumer products. The Service and Retailing segment includes aviation pilot training and electronic component distribution. The McLane segment encompasses the wholesale distribution of food and non-food products, and the Pilot segment operates retail travel centers.