Atlanta Galleria Now

Tenant Q&A: Jeff DuFresne of Urban Land Institute Atlanta

As the executive director of the Urban Land Institute (ULI) Atlanta, which is located in Galleria 300, Jeff DuFresne is one of the leading experts on the real estate and development issues facing the metro area. We recently got a chance to chat with Jeff about those issues, as well as his extensive career, ULI Atlanta’s mission and his favorite feature of the Galleria.

A hearty thanks to Jeff for his time and insight!

AG: What is the mission of the Urban Land Institute Atlanta, and what services do you offer to help fulfill that mission?

DuFresne: The Urban Land Institute (ULI), founded in 1936, is a global nonprofit with 30,000 members representing the entire spectrum of the real estate development industry. ULI Atlanta serves as the regional steward of the Institute and is charged with providing leadership in the responsible use of land and creating and sustaining thriving communities in the Southeast. We fulfill this mission by providing educational programs, technical assistance and the Center for Leadership, as well as networking opportunities for our members.

AG: Give us an overview of your career: how long have you been at ULI Atlanta, and what did you do before working for this organization?

DuFresne: I moved to Atlanta with my new bride in 1985. I spent the next 20 years working in the institutional real estate investment/development field, first for insurance companies (Prudential Real Estate Investors and New York Life) and then for a pension fund (DIHC, which coincidently owned Galleria 200 at the time and where I had the pleasure of working with some great folks of a relatively new company called Childress Klein Properties). Finally, I worked for opportunity funds (LNR Property Corporation and Colonnade Properties). Besides Galleria 200, I oversaw such developments and investments as 191 Peachtree Tower, Peachtree Center and Centennial Tower.

When we sold the final fund, I wanted to give back to the industry that had been good to me, so I joined the non-profit ULI as an executive director in 2005.

AG: In your opinion, what are the biggest challenges metro Atlanta faces in terms of land use and development? And what are the factors most working in the metro area’s favor?

DuFresne: Much has changed since the boom years as our city embarks on a very different path of development. It’s no longer the poster child for sprawl, as our civic leaders and the real estate community have discovered that walkable urban places are the kind of communities that people want.

Not only do such places attract the vaunted highly educated young technology worker by offering a higher quality lifestyle, but these places are inherently more affordable for people, because they extract many of the costs of the automobile from the household budget (as well as time spent in traffic). For this reason, the biggest challenge (and opportunity) facing metro Atlanta is to embrace this type of development, which is closely akin to transit-oriented development.

AG: Favorite thing about having your office in the Atlanta Galleria?

DuFresne: The food trucks in the Garden, where I can consume vast quantities of food that my wife doesn’t allow me to eat at home.

Q&A: Connie Engel of Childress Klein Properties

As a partner of Childress Klein Properties’ Atlanta Office Division, Connie Engel oversees the leasing and development of the Atlanta Galleria Office Park. We recently got a chance to speak with Connie about new features at the Galleria, the long-term development plans for the park and the Galleria’s enduring appeal to tenants.

Many thanks to Connie for her time and insight.

Do you have any big plans in store for the Galleria for the fourth quarter and the first part of 2013? 


Engel: Yes, we have a lot of cool things happening. We have recently installed the newest and greatest elevators in the Galleria 100 building. The program is called Destination Dispatch. Typically, you go inside an elevator and press what floor you want. But with Destination Dispatch, you tell the system what floor you want in the lobby, and it lumps the floor requests together so that you go on an elevator where everyone is going to floors near yours. That way, you’re not stopping at every floor, which can be annoying.

We also are doing a major modification for the walkway from the parking deck to the Galleria 100 lobby. The Galleria 100 is one of the oldest and most recognizable buildings in Atlanta. It was built in 1982 and with these modifications, we’re saying that Galleria 100 is still at its peak. It’s a great building and a great value.

Any long-term plans?

Engel: We still have two more building sites. Galleria 500 is the grand finale and will be a large building and a bookend to the Waverly Hotel. There is a second site for a smaller building, Galleria 555.

When will activity start on these buildings? 


Engel: It’s still on the horizon. We built all the Galleria office buildings on 100 percent spec. That’s probably not going to happen again. We’ll need a tenant who will want between 150,000 to 200,000 square feet before we would start construction.

The good news is that nothing new has been built in the area since 2001, so it’s been past 10 years since something new has come to market. At some point, availability will run out, and someone will start building.

Any chance of building a residential component to the Galleria? 


Engel: There has been a dramatic increase in residential being built in the area. However, we have never been able to make the numbers for a residential component work.

What makes the Galleria unique and appealing to tenants? 


Engel: Its charm is that in Atlanta there are many beautiful standalone, Class-A office buildings. You can walk in them and see beautiful art and architecture. But what you get here is a giant park with all these people. Because of the density, we are able to do a lot of fun things, such as have Food Truck Tuesdays, barbecues and ice cream celebrations, as well as activities such as the Bloodmobiles. We provide an environment where people want to be and where they enjoy themselves.

We have free parking and easy ingress and egress into the park. It’s beautiful and every day you will see people enjoying lunch or just coming outside to take a break under the trees or on the grass. People enjoy walking the grounds.

I say that people enjoy working at the Galleria so much that they don’t want to leave even after switching jobs. I’m not kidding. I know several people who left jobs at the Galleria for other jobs with other tenants at the Galleria. A friend of mine had three different jobs and never left the Galleria. Honestly! People like being here, and it’s a comment on the quality of our tenants. I can understand that feeling: I’ve been at the Galleria for 27 years!

Where do you go for private time and meals in the area in and around the Galleria? 


Engel: I go to the Georgian Club for breakfast or lunch. I go there with clients all the time, but I love to go there for breakfast and read the paper alone. Breakfast at the Georgian Club is free for members, and you’ll see lots of the same tenants there every day having breakfast. It’s how they start their day.

I also go to Akers Mill Square. They’re opening some new restaurants, and my old standby is Ray’s on the River.

But sometimes I just step outside and have a picnic. I might bring a sandwich outside and sit under an umbrella. You will see so many of our tenants doing that — get a sandwich at the deli or take their lunch from Food Truck Tuesdays and just sit outside and enjoy the fresh air. We have an English garden and waterfalls. It’s really wonderful.

Galleria Focus: Spa Waverly

One of the many advantages our tenants have working in Atlanta Galleria is Spa Waverly, which opened in late June of this year. Located inside of the Renaissance Atlanta Waverly Hotel, Spa Waverly is dedicated to offering reasonable, quality wellness services in a blissful atmosphere of modern elegance.

Spa Waverly offers a full-service spa with 13 styles of massage therapy, esthetics and spa retail. There are four treatment rooms and guests may take advantage of the state-of-the-art fitness center, two racquetball courts, rooftop swimming pool and indoor heated salt water pool with Jacuzzi. Also, with all services, guests are provided with a private locker, plush spa robe and slippers.  Between appointments, you can unwind in the newly renovated lounges which include showers, a eucalyptus steam room and an aromatic cedar dry sauna. For a full list of services and pricing, visit the spa’s website.

For your convenience, the spa is open seven days per week from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. They offer online appointment scheduling, complimentary consultations, customizable services and gift certificates.

For more information call 770-303-3171 or email [email protected].

Also, be sure to subscribe to the blog , “like” the Atlanta Galleria Facebook page and follow us on Twitter because one lucky winner will receive a free “Autumn Rejuvenation” package which includes any style massage and a mini-facial ($135 value).

Galleria Focus: Project Success

Clint Padgett, CEO of Atlanta Galleria tenant Project Success, started at the firm as a senior associate in 1994. We caught up with him recently to talk about Project Success, how the company got its name, why he likes working at Atlanta Galleria, where he eats lunch, what he does outside of work and more.

Tell me about Project Success.

We are still a small company (approximately 20 employees) focused exclusively on training and consulting in the project management arena. Our mission is to help our clients develop the organizational capability to manage projects successfully. We provide client organizations with the knowledge, skills, systems and tools that, when properly applied to strategic initiatives, create a competitive advantage and enhance the quality of work-life for their employees. Ultimately, our goal is to provide clients with practical, cost-effective, long-term solutions to project management challenges and requirements.

How did Project Success get its name?

Project Success was formed in 1983 as Young, Clark and Associates. Over the years, existing clients began referring to us as “YCA” for short. This was confusing to new clients and consequently, one of the most common questions we received was “What does YCA stand for?” In 2005, we made the decision to officially change the name from YCA to Project Success so that the company name was more indicative of what we do.

What makes Project Success’ employees stand out?

Our employees average 29 years of post-college work experience, 13 years working at with the company (two-thirds have at least 10 years with the company), 100 percent have a bachelor’s degree and almost 60 percent have an advanced degree.

What made you choose Atlanta Galleria?

We moved into the Galleria in January 2007.  We combined our administrative and executive offices and wanted to build a dedicated, state-of-the-art classroom in which to conduct our monthly training courses. We wanted every class participant to have an unobstructed view so we required a space with extremely high ceilings.  The 100 Building at Galleria had the perfect space for us.  Now, our executive and administrative functions are all within the same space allowing us to be more efficient.  And we were able to create our dream classroom.  It has tiered, theater-style seating so every one of the 43 seats has an unobstructed view of the instructor and the video screen.

What is your favorite part about working at Atlanta Galleria?

My favorite thing about working at the Galleria is a three-way tie.  First, it is an incredibly convenient location, for both me and our clients. Our clients love the ease of access to I-285, I-75 and Highway 41, and I love having my office within a short, three-mile commute from home.  Second, the staff is absolutely wonderful to work with.  Connie Engel and Robin Hill have always been extremely helpful and accommodating, as have the maintenance and security personnel we interact with on a daily basis.  Finally, I love having so many restaurants within easy walking distance, especially Chipotle, because I love spicy food. 

Tell me about yourself. 

At 18, I enlisted in the U.S. Navy for six years. I spent the last four years and six months of my enlistment as an electrician’s mate onboard the USS America (CV-66), an aircraft carrier based in Norfolk, Va. After the Navy, I attended Georgia Tech where I received an electrical engineering degree.  I also have an MBA from Duke University.  I am a published author, The Project Success Method: A Proven Approach for Achieving Superior Project Performance in as Little as 5 Days, with John Wiley & Sons Publishing and I speak often to groups and conferences on the topic of successful project management. My wife, Becki, is a physical therapist at Georgia Tech.  We have a 3-year-old son, Hamilton, and a 6-month old daughter, Samantha Harper.

Galleria Focus: jB+a’s Jon Benson

He’s a lover of ice cream and boats, an entrepreneur and environmentalist, an award-winning landscape architect and a Georgia Bulldawg. We recently had the opportunity to talk to Jon Benson, president and founder of jB+a, a landscape architecture firm that provides professional planning and design services (and a longtime tenant at Atlanta Galleria). Like so many of the people who work here every day, Jon has a great story to tell, and we enjoyed our visit with him.

Tell me about jB+a.

jB+a  was established in 1999 as a licensed corporation in the state of Georgia. Our portfolio consists of work on a wide range of projects including large international developments, community visioning and assisting our clients in seeking alternative funding for unique programs. jB+a began in the basement of my home with an original focus on planning and design for multifamily developments in the metro Atlanta area. However, shifts in the market and the addition of new staff presented the opportunity to expand and diversify into a wide range of other public and private development markets. We now have a staff of 13 highly qualified individuals and two offices, Atlanta and Savannah.

How long have you been at Atlanta Galleria? 

We moved into the 700 building in 2004 because we like the convenience and easy access to Interstates, connecting roads and lunch places. Our work is mostly in Georgia so meeting with our clients requires us to have good access to roads and highways; Atlanta Galleria offers this better than other locations.

What is you favorite area restaurant?

Two of my favorite area restaurants are Cinco Mexican Cantina, directly across Akers Mill, and Taverna Fiorentina, a small Italian kitchen at Cobb Parkway and Paces Mill Road. Our company favorites will always be La Paz and Garrisons since our original office was adjacent to both in Vinings.

What is jB+a known for?

jB+a has received several project-based awards, was recognized as a top small business by the Cobb Chamber and has been listed as one of the best places to work in Atlanta by Atlanta Business Chronicle. We have worked also on many LEED projects and are committed to sustainable practices. One of our most notable projects is Suwanee Town Center in Gwinnett.

What’s notable about Suwanee Town Center?

We designed the Suwanee Town Center in conjunction with engineers and planners, developing a community-based urban space. Suwanee Town Center has changed the community tremendously. As part of the Suwanee LCI planning process, this 10-acre park is the centerpiece for new development of office, retail, residential and municipal facilities. The open-space park includes a signature amphitheater for festivals and civic gatherings and is the site of the LEED certified City Hall building.

Tell me about yourself.

I am a Registered Landscape Architect and earned an MLA in Landscape Architecture from the University of Georgia. My interest in landscape architecture was sparked by a love of gardening. My passion for this type of work brings ultimate fulfillment when I can observe people using the spaces I designed in innovative and unexpected ways, as well as how they were originally intended to be used. In my spare time, I enjoy swimming, boating and traveling the world. I also have a love of ice cream, especially Ben & Jerry’s Everything But The…

Galleria Focus: Digital Insurance

At Atlanta Galleria, we are proud of all the work our tenants do for the community. We recently had the pleasure of talking to Adam Bruckman, president and CEO of Digital Insurance, who has been with the company since its founding in 2000.  We talked with him about the DI Dash, an annual 5K run benefiting Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, as well as about Digital Insurance’s overall business.

Tell me about Digital Insurance’s annual “DI Dash.”

I am very proud of our annual “DI Dash,” which is a 5K run benefitting Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. We just held our second run with almost 700 participants, raising $30,000. We hope all of our Atlanta Galleria colleagues, families and friends join us for next year’s event.

How did the DI Dash come about and what does it mean to Digital Insurance?

John Short, vice president human resources, proposed the run to me a couple of years ago. We felt it was a great way to raise money in a large group event that promoted health. Digital Insurance has been a long time supporter of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and we believe in and support its mission of enhancing the lives of children through excellence in patient care, research and education. We like to support the communities that give so much to us and it’s important to our staff to be involved in giving their time and resources as well.  The Dash is exciting and fun for all of us to participate and give at the same time. 

What is Digital Insurance and what is its mission?

Digital Insurance is the nation’s leading employee benefits agency specializing in insurance for small businesses and mid-sized companies. The company has close to 200 employees and just celebrated its 10-year anniversary. Our mission is to deliver innovative health and benefits solutions that empower our customers to make informed business decisions, attract and retain talented employees, improve employee health and productivity and compete effectively in the marketplace.

How long has Digital Insurance been at Atlanta Galleria and what do you like most about working there?

Digital Insurance has been in the Galleria 400 building for about five years. Atlanta Galleria is a great, central location that draws quality employees from all over the city, has good access to interstate roads and is a beautiful building and complex.

Tell me about yourself.

I was born in Long Island, N.Y., my hometown being Glen Cove, N.Y. I now live in Marietta with my wife and two sons. I received a bachelor’s degree in economics from Tufts University. My favorite pastime is coaching my boys – any sport but mainly lacrosse. I love my job and the insurance industry and believe strongly in balancing work and family life. I enjoy boating and jet skiing, the Yankees and Giants and, of course, the Braves and Falcons. My life philosophy is “Attitude is everything.” My favorite song is “Imagine” by John Lennon.

Galleria Focus: Kuraoka Clinic

Atlanta Galleria is home to a variety of tenants, including Kuraoka Clinic, an internal medicine and family practice combined with radiology and medical spa services. We had the chance to talk to Maki Rheaume, co-owner of Kuraoka Clinic, which is in the Galleria 100 building.  

1. Tell me about Kuraoka Clinic.
Kuraoka Clinic opened in March 2010. We have eight employees and our goal is to provide the best medical service with highly qualified staff in a friendly atmosphere. We offer same-day appointments, Saturday hours, short wait time, quality time with each patient and 24-hour direct cell phone contact with the doctor. We also have digital x-ray and ultrasound machines that are all read by Dr. Mark Rheaume, who is double board certified in radiology and interventional radiology.

2. What is your job at Kuraoka Clinic?
I am board certified in Internal Medicine and it is my specialty. I see, counsel and treat patients in our clinic. I also offer medical spa services, which include Botox, Juvedurm, Latisse and Obagi products. I make sure patients receive quality medical care and help them stay healthy.

3. Tell me about yourself.
I graduated from medical school in Japan in 1999 and have been practicing in the U.S. since 2002. I currently live in Marietta, but I am originally from Osaka, Japan. I have two children, Amy, 5, and Jake, 2, and a wonderful husband, Mark.

4. What made you choose Atlanta Galleria and what do you like most about working there?
We chose Atlanta Galleria for the great location and have since enjoyed the wonderful people. We are located in Galleria 100, Suite 660, which is perfect for us.

To find out more about Kuraoka Clinic and its services call 770-980-0000.

Galleria Focus: Batson-Cook Construction

At Atlanta Galleria, we are proud of our world-class tenants and always enjoy learning about their businesses. We recently spoke with Randy Hall, senior vice president and general manager at Batson-Cook Construction. The firm’s Atlanta division, which employs 104 full-time professionals, just celebrated its 50th year. Company-wide, Batson-Cook has 228 employees, including those at its headquarters in West Point, Ga.   

What is Batson-Cook Construction?

Batson-Cook Company was founded in 1915 by W.C. Batson and Edmund F. Cook in West Point. The company began operations in textile and mill village construction and, during Cook’s tenure as president from 1929 until 1953, moved into other types of construction work to meet the demands of the growing economy. Batson-Cook continued to expand operations during the next few decades and became recognized as one of the premier construction organizations in the southeastern United States. Today, Batson-Cook operates as a construction manager, general contractor and design/build contractor in West Point, Atlanta, Jacksonville and Tampa.

How long has Batson-Cook been at the Atlanta Galleria?

Our office has been in the Atlanta Galleria since 1987.  Besides having a great relationship with Childress Klein Properties, we have become accustomed to the Class-A office buildings. Because of the amenities and the location, which is central to all our employees, we have decided to call the Galleria our home.

Tell me about the Batson-Cook staff.

We are excited about our employees.  We have a great team here in Atlanta and together we have navigated, and are continuing to navigate, through these hard economic times.  Our entire staff has stepped up to the plate and joined forces to maintain Batson-Cook’s goal to be one of the top leading general contractors in the Southeast.

What are Batson-Cook’s recent successes?

The Batson-Cook-built Duke Energy Center in Charlotte, N.C., was awarded the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Core and Shell version 2.0 Platinum certification. The office tower, the gem of the Wells Fargo Cultural Campus, received the award from the US Green Building Council. It’s the first high-rise to receive this distinction in the country.  The building sits on an entire city block in uptown Charlotte and provides one million square feet of underground parking, encompassing eight levels.

Batson-Cook’s efforts were enhanced by the strong commitment from owner Wells Fargo & Company (formerly Wachovia), innovative design by architect tvsdesign of Atlanta and Childress Klein Properties who served as the fee developer on the DEC project and is the current property manager of the building. The team maximized the environmental efficiency of the building in five key categories: sustainable site; water efficiency; energy and atmosphere; materials and resources; and indoor environmental quality.

Has Batson-Cook won any awards for this project?

On June 15, Duke Energy Center was awarded multiple awards by the CMAA Southern Region including Best New Construction-Over $100 Million and Best Overall-Dave Borchers Memorial Award.

What is Clays for a Cause?

In 2006, a small group from Batson-Cook’s Atlanta Office wanted to do more for the community and the challenge was on.  A committee was started and Clays for a Cause was formed.  We now host the event annually, which includes world-class shooting at Cherokee Rose Sporting Resort in Griffin, as well as networking, great food and a lot of fun.  At our first event, we were able to present a check for $50,000 to American Cancer Society.  The event has grown over the past five years and we have presented a total of $385,000 to three different charities.

Pictured above (left to right):  Chuck Gaston, Mark Dye, Curt Rigney, Randy Thompson, Randy Hall, David Brown and Bob Douma at the awards ceremony.

Galleria Focus: Holt Ney Zatcoff & Wasserman

At Childress Klein, we value all our tenants and are proud that some of the most well-respected companies in the world call Atlanta Galleria home. Of course, we have a particular sentimental attachment to the original tenants who are still with us, including Holt Ney Zatcoff & Wasserman, a general business law firm with 14 partners and five legal assistants. We spoke with Pam Zenner, a legal secretary, who made the move with the firm to Cobb County nearly three decades back.

What do you do for Holt Ney Zatcoff & Wasserman?

I am a legal secretary for two attorneys and one paralegal. I have been working with the same group of people since 1980 - initially at other law firms and then at HNZW since the firm was founded in 1984.

How long have you been at the Atlanta Galleria Office Park?

We have been in the Atlanta Galleria since 1982, the year it opened.

 How has The Galleria changed since you have been there?

In 1982, the first building, Building 100, had just been completed. It was the tallest building in the area. I was transferred to the Galleria office from a downtown office near Five Points. With the exception of Cumberland Mall, there was little large scale development in the area. I watched the Galleria develop, first from the 12th floor of Building 100 and then from the sixth floor of Building 100.  After the Waverly Hotel was built, the Galleria Mall became quite popular because of the upscale stores, movie theater and several nice restaurants. One of my favorite attractions though has always been the landscaped park between the two sets of buildings.

What do you like most about working at The Galleria? 

The buildings are attractive, the park is lovely and well-kept, parking is convenient, the tenant appreciation events are always fun and we have a nice variety of nearby restaurants to choose from.

Tell a little about yourself.

My husband, Dave, and I have a home in Mableton, where we are only 8 miles from the Galleria. Dave has an architecture firm in downtown Atlanta called The Zenner Group.  We have a dog named Shannon. I enjoy making jewelry, gardening and reading.

What is your favorite Cobb County entertainment venue?

There are so many good restaurants in the area.  My current favorite though is Marlow's Tavern.  I also enjoy the fact that the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Centre is within walking distance of the Galleria.  I have enjoyed several wonderful performances there in the past year.