ATLANTA — Norfolk Southern has opened its new headquarters building in Atlanta following a Wednesday ceremony featuring Gov. Brian Kemp, Sen. Raphael Warnock, Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, NS employees, and city civic and business leaders.
The 750,000-square-foot building is on a 3.4-acre campus in Tech Square, featuring two glass towers connected with a campus-style hub; touchless technology throughout open workspaces, street-level plazas and rooftype terraces; and employee amenities including a food hall, coffee shop, 24-hour fitness center, and on-site daycare.
“There are many reasons we are proud to call Atlanta home,” CEO Jim Squires said in a press release. “The city is diverse and culturally rich, with amenities that will ensure our employees and their families thrive. We are committed that Norfolk Southern and its people will be more than just residents of Atlanta – we plan to be engaged community partners, committed to the future of our new home.”
Norfolk Southern’s headquarters had been in Norfolk, Va., since the 1982 merger of Norfolk & Western and Southern Railway, while operational and technology leadership was based in Atlanta.
They also got the city to sell bonds so that NS could sell off land to a developer that once comprised Terminal Station tracks “Gulch” (which they had been trying to sell for years). The implied threat was that the move to Atlanta might hinge on the sale of the Gulch.
Sadly typical of many corporate moves these days. They forsake their small city headquarters for a bigger city location, often because senior management wants to live in a place where they can have more social visibility (although they never say that).
You are right, but NS did have their operations and tech personnel here already as the article states. This building is also a stone’s throw from Georgia Tech, from which they’ll want to tap much-needed tech people. (Then they can implement moving blocks…XD)
You are correct. All about senior management being able to rub elbows with their fellow elites.
Look Ahead…Look South
Can you see trains from the building?
Nope, no trains visible from this mid-town Atlanta location. Nothing visible but other buildings and Atlanta traffic jams.
So, will NS continue to have an office presence in Norfolk?
And the railroad is coming off the wheels on the operating side, but the OR is great!