TK Elevator CEO Kevin Lavallee explaining about the company and its economic impact
There continues to be good news for Georgia’s economy. One of the latest examples: TK Elevator, one of the world’s largest elevator companies, is constructing a first-class North American headquarters at Battery Park where Truist Park (home of the Atlanta Braves) is located. The three-building campus includes 205,000 sq. ft of total office space and, from atop a 420-foot glass elevator test tower, one has a great view of Cobb County or, if you prefer, downtown Atlanta.
Last week this writer had the opportunity to join TK Elevator CEO Kevin Lavallee, company officials, Cobb County Chamber of Commerce officials and others to tour the $200 million facility and to ride in a huge freight elevator to the top of the tower.
Lavallee told me that the company plans to add 900 high-paying jobs in IT, engineering and administration to the Cobb County workforce. The company specializes in researching how elevators are to be researched, tested and built in all sorts of locales. For example, engineers create technical publications and tools to support the servicing of both TK Elevator equipment and even that of its competitor elevator companies. TK Elevator also plans to reach out to local schools to help generate interest in engineering amongst fifth through eighth graders.
“It really goes to show how the Braves’ decision to move here in 2013 has had such an impact on Cobb,” said Cumberland CID Executive Director Kim Menefee. “(TK Elevator) had lots of choices where they could’ve located their headquarters. But one of the reasons they chose this area was because it’s growing, it’s exciting and they wanted to be a part of that.”
The project is scheduled to be completed by early 2022.
