ACR members will also reap the benefits of this building purchase. The new facility has plenty of space for the ACR to host some of its smaller committee meetings. Committee volunteers will be invited to ACR headquarters instead of temporary rented spaces in hotels or conference centers to attend some of the regular meetings held throughout the year. ACR members coming from out of town can fly into the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and take public transportation or a short taxi ride to the ACR headquarters. Visiting members will find the Lenox Park area, home to the ACR’s new building, to have a good mix of hotels, restaurants, and shopping options. According to Tammy Tilley, senior director of communications and marketing at the ACR, the organization hopes to negotiate more favorable hotel and dining rates at the nearby accommodations, which would mean savings for the ACR and its members.
Currently, the ACR staff numbers 72. … The ACR’s spacious new building boasts one hundred offices and offers more than enough space for the current staff—and it gives the ACR the capacity to increase the staff by 50%.
Looking Ahead and Honoring the Past
The permanence of owning property and the ability to consistently host meetings in a regular and predictable location will be “a positive model for the future,” Dr. Cohen says. Traveling ACR members will become familiar with the area and know where to go, Dr. Cohen continues, and “it will get everyone used to coming to headquarters.” Sherine Gabriel, MD, immediate past-president of the ACR, is looking forward to seeing the ACR’s history displayed at the new headquarters. Given the organization’s rich 75-year history, having a permanent, dedicated space to display the accomplishments and faces of the ACR will be a source of pride and reflection for members and staff alike.
Savings and budget predictability are two significant benefits the college will experience as a result of owning property. Andrejeski and Dr. Cohen affirm that hosting meetings in the new building will result in significant savings for the ACR due to the fact that they will no longer be obligated to rent space for these meetings. No longer having to rely on costly temporary space accommodations will give the ACR the ability to make projections farther into the future for budget planning. In addition, Andrejeski says, appreciation in the value of the real estate makes this a wise investment for the ACR.
