Porsche executives and leading politicians broke ground Tuesday on the luxury car brand’s new North American headquarters at a complex near Atlanta’s busy airport, as officials expressed hope the construction could lead to a new wave of development in the area.
The frequent buzz of airlines passing overhead from the nearby airport was a constant reminder of the bet Porsche was making by moving from cushy office space in Sandy Springs to the up-and-coming Aerotropolis development, the site of a now-shuttered Ford plant.
The $100 million complex, which will feature a test track plunging through its lower levels, is set to be complete by late 2014 and will house about 400 workers, including 100 newly created jobs. Porsche executives were quick to point out that the building would be soundproofed to quiet the noise of the jet engines overhead.
In luring Porsche, officials predicted the start of a new office hub in metro Atlanta that can feed off nearby airport activity.
“This is the future,” said Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed. “We think we have good bones, and we think this is just the beginning.”
Check out the AJC’s Wednesday editions for more details on the long-frustrated efforts to turn the area around the airport into a thriving economic hub.
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