Why I love my job: Van Thornhill, director of operations, Atlantic Station

What I do: When Cirque du Soleil needs a flat, paved parcel of land outside Atlantic Station or Dialog in the Dark needs a large, dark room inside the residential-retail-entertainment complex in Midtown, they come to Van Thornhill.

As Atlantic Station’s director of operations, it is Thornhill’s job to “do the landlord work” both for temporary exhibits and circuses as well as for new businesses and people moving into the new living quarters.

Thornhill, 59, directed Atlantic Station to build a “vanilla box,” or generic space for Dialog and Bodies. “Then they took over and brought the exhibits in,” he said.

They are two different spaces, he explained. Dialog needed a series of rooms that could be darkened so people can share the experiences of visually impaired people. Bodies needed an open, well-lighted and air-conditioned space to exhibit the insides and outsides of human body specimens.

With retail stores below the spaces where the two exhibitions are housed and residential units above them, “the window was very small” to prepare the spaces.

For Cirque du Soleil, Thornhill arranged for the area under and around the tent to be leveled and paved, and for a ramp to be built to make the site accessible. Once the show opened, “security and parking is our challenge,” he said.

Atlantic Station is owned by AIG Global Real Estate, and Thornhill works for its management company, Jones, Lang, LaSalle.

Thornhill also oversees the landscaping, security, fire protection and other life safety operations at Atlantic Station.

And when retail tenants want to move in, “We give them the space, and they build it out,” he said. His office also deals with the Atlanta permit office.

Atlantic Station “has its own ZIP code and sits on top of a parking deck —- there are a lot of challenges,” he said. “It’s an upscale city inside a city.”

What got me interested in this: Thornhill said he started his career as a horticulturist for a large local real estate company and soon added operations to his duties. “I like this,” he said. “I’ve been in it for a long time, but my passion is still horticulture.”

Best part of my job: “The expressions on people’s faces when they say, ‘I didn’t know this place existed,’ ” Thornhill said. “People take pictures… . We make them happy and give them a memorable time.”

Most challenging part: “The way Atlantic Station is built,” he said. “There are so many different components, with major events going on all the time. It’s massive and complicated to run.”

What people don’t know about my job: “Once you take a job like this, you’re committed 24/7. You’re responsible for the safety and comfort of people who live here and visitors,” he said.

What keeps me going: “It’s exciting. I see Atlantic Station from I-85 [when I drive in to work]. It gives you goose bumps,” he said.

Preparation needed for this job: “Be laid back. Take things as they come,” Thornhill said.

“Be a great communicator because we all plan together… . A lot of it is public relations.”

While a college degree isn’t necessary, it’s helpful, he said, and significant experience in retail development operations is necessary. Thornhill continues to take classes, attends engineering and professional conferences and meets with officials from Jones, Lang, LaSalle.

You also need to be familiar with electrical operations, plumbing, safety, landscaping, construction and public relations.

Thornhill has an associate’s degree in horticulture from North Georgia Technical College and attended Mercer University as a management major. He has worked in operations with almost every major mall in the Atlanta area, including being manager of Lenox Square when it brought back the Pink Pig. He came to Atlantic Station about 14 months ago from Lenox. “I’ve worked at all the premier properties,” he said.

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