Member Spotlight: SSOE Group

Architecture, Engineering, and Site Evaluation for International Manufacturers Establishing and Expanding U.S. Operations

SSOE Group  is an internationally ranked architecture and engineering firm with 22 offices worldwide, including six concentrated in the Southeast U.S., two of which are in Atlanta—home to GACC South headquarters. We have more than 75 years of experience delivering complex industrial and architectural projects and niche experience as an advisory partner for foreign and domestic clients who rely on us for design adaptation, help navigating incentives and permitting, technical site evaluation, and Foreign Direct Investment. This brings a natural alignment with the chamber's mission: a deep experience helping international manufacturers, including many German companies, successfully establish and expand operations on U.S. soil.

SSOE has a well-established track record working with German manufacturers across the Southeast, including projects for BMW in Spartanburg, South Carolina; Volkswagen in Chattanooga, Tennessee; Continental Tire in Sumter, South Carolina; Benteler Steel in Shreveport, Louisiana; BOCAR in Huntsville, Alabama; and GEDIA in Dalton, Georgia—all greenfield or major expansion projects. This experience gives SSOE a firsthand understanding of the challenges international companies face when committing capital to a new U.S. facility.

From Site Evaluation to Facility Start-Up

A core differentiator is SSOE's site evaluation expertise. The firm partners with owners, economic developers, site selectors, and commercial real estate professionals early in the project lifecycle to conduct technical due diligence on potential sites before a company makes a long-term investment decision. This early engagement helps international companies navigate critical questions: Does the site work from a civil and infrastructure standpoint? Where are the best incentives? What are the risks that could drive cost overruns after the fact? The value proposition is clear—identifying technical challenges before purchase, not after, gives companies stronger negotiating power and avoids costly surprises. A focused technical evaluation, sometimes as modest as $10,000, can save millions.

Built for the Southeast’s Growth Corridor

SSOE's Southeast offices are scattered across the region’s booming industrial corridor, where automotive, advanced manufacturing, and semiconductor investment are all accelerating across Alabama, Tennessee, Georgia, and the Carolinas. Beyond industrial work, SSOE also delivers architecturally led projects in healthcare, education, workforce development, and community sectors, serving clients like Prisma Health, Atlanta Public Schools, and Clemson University. The firm is actively investing in continuing to grow its architectural practice in the Southeast, making it a hub for both industrial and community-focused design in the region.

Global Scale. Local Execution.

With more than $2 billion in documented project savings for clients since 2009, 95% of clients surveyed saying they would recommend SSOE to a colleague, and over 150 clients who have been with the firm for more than 20 years, SSOE combines the strength and resources of a nationally recognized global project delivery firm with the responsiveness and community connection of a local partner.

For GACC South members and international companies evaluating the U.S. for manufacturing investment, SSOE offers a proven path from site evaluation to facility design—bridging architectural vision and engineering precision with on-the-ground execution.

Learn more about SSOE Group: ssoe.com