200+ jobs coming to Peachtree Corners as companies move to city

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The American Society of Heating, Refigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) will soon follow. The non-profit organization is moving its world headquarters to Peachtree Corners. ASHRAE has purchased a three-story building on Technology Parkway, near Technology Park Atlanta, and is expected to spend $15.7 million to retrofit the 1970s-era building before 120 employees move in in October 2020. The organization is currently located in DeKalb County near Buford Highway.

These recent relocation announcements, as well as past ones including companies like Carmax, can partially be credited to the city’s “innovation master plan” adopted two years ago, said Peachtree Corners City Manager Brian Johnson. Part of that plan was to reinvigorate Technology Park Atlanta, which launched in the ’80s, but was an “out-of-date office park” by the time the city incorporated in 2012, Mayor Mike Mason said at a January event.

Prototype Prime, a startup incubator, is now housed at Technology Park Atlanta, and the city has partnered with private companies to launch an autonomous vehicle research facility.

In addition to re-investing in Technology Park Atlanta, the plan also included building “workforce housing,” increasing walkability and adding recreation trails, Johnson said. That, plus the city’s mixed-use development Town Center, has helped balance Peachtree Corners as a place attractive to companies and their workers, Johnson said.

“We try to be diverse in our investment into the city so it’s a great place to live, work, learn and play,” Johnson said. “We’re no different than any other city, but we were in the position to make direct improvements on certain things in a short period of time.”

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