Tuesday, September 30, 2014
It wasn’t that long ago that businesses fled the downtown Atlanta area for the suburbs. It cost less and as a general rule made for shorter commutes for their employees. Now there is a push to try and bring business, especially tech businesses, back to downtown. The question is how to attract these corporations. Atlanta is battling the horrendous traffic problem it has, education for employees’ children, housing costs and many more conundrums that make it difficult to decide as a company where to set up shop. That being said, big moves have been afoot in the last two years. Fortune 500 company NCR has looked at leaving its Duluth base for an intown spot near Georgia Tech. And two weeks ago, athenahealth, a Massachusetts-based medical services and tech company, moved its Atlanta area offices from Alpharetta to Midtown’s Ponce City Market beside the Beltline. The relocation shifted 200 people, and the company said it expects to have a total of 600 local employees by 2017. I got to check out athenahealth’s 75,000 sq. ft. new digs and it is impressive.
Ponce City Market in Atlanta is the new home to athenahealth.
A placard with athenahealth on it sits by the elevators leading up to the 75,000 square foot offices at Ponce City Market in Atlanta on Tuesday, September 30, 2014.
Jim Dobbins works at his cubicle in the 75,000 square foot offices of athenahealth at Ponce City Market in Atlanta on Tuesday, September 30, 2014.
David Harvey (left) gives a tour of the 75,000 square foot offices of athenahealth at Ponce City Market in Atlanta on Tuesday, September 30, 2014.
Employees work in the 75,000 square foot offices of athenahealth at Ponce City Market in Atlanta on Tuesday, September 30, 2014.
David Harvey (center) gives a tour of the 75,000 square foot offices of athenahealth at Ponce City Market in Atlanta on Tuesday, September 30, 2014.
Employees Nate Gianino (right) and Brooke Potter talk in the 75,000 square foot offices of athenahealth at Ponce City Market in Atlanta on Tuesday, September 30, 2014.
David Harvey (right) talks with Sandi Parker as he gives a tour of the 75,000 square foot offices of athenahealth at Ponce City Market in Atlanta on Tuesday, September 30, 2014.
David Harvey (left) gives a tour of the 75,000 square foot offices of athenahealth at Ponce City Market in Atlanta on Tuesday, September 30, 2014.
James Irwin (top right) and Michael Phillips (bottom left) check out the 75,000 square foot offices of athenahealth at Ponce City Market in Atlanta on Tuesday, September 30, 2014.
A view of downtown Atlanta from the roof of Ponce City Market on Tuesday, September 30, 2014.
A view of downtown Atlanta from the roof of Ponce City Market on Tuesday, September 30, 2014.
A view of downtown Atlanta from the roof of Ponce City Market on Tuesday, September 30, 2014.
A view of downtown Atlanta from the roof of Ponce City Market on Tuesday, September 30, 2014.