Coca Cola decided to renovate rather than build a new headquarters tower downtown (Atlanta: store, wealthy)

[MathmanMathman]

Originally Posted by lorilove

My understanding is that Coca Cola owns all the land from their current headquarters back to the World of Coke - there was discussion at one point that they would build out the area as a "campus" environment similar to many tech companies.

That seems like a much smarter move. Towers are impressive but what do they really do for the company? Companies like Coke need to be more creative rather than reinforcing a stuffed shirt corporate culture that's more interested in how well pressed your shirt is.

[aries4118]

Originally Posted by Newsboy

I always thought it would be REALLY REALLY cool for Coke's HQ building to [be] shaped like a giant Coke bottle plated in green .... With lights shining out the top like fizz!

This.

[arjay57]

Originally Posted by ATLTJL

Coke sponsors a lot of cultural events and that is cool, but I really think that they should do much more for the city and really leave a major mark. What has Coke done, aside from build World of Coke, which is really just a commercial for itself?

There are very few major civic projects that haven't benefited immensely from Coke money and leadership.

Consider the Human Rights Museum -- Coke donated the land, and has made major grants to finance the construction.

Take a look at the supporters of the King Center: Our Supporters | The Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change

Or Coke's $6 million gift to Spelman and Morehouse, plus another $1.2 million to help manage the King papers. (And you can guess who the major players were in putting up the $32 million required to buy the papers from the King family in the first place).

Or the $200 million donated to keep Grady Hospital afloat.

It's a very, very long list.

[rcsteiner]

Originally Posted by Newsboy

I always thought it would be REALLY REALLY cool for Coke's HQ building to shaped like a giant Coke bottle plated in green .... With lights shining out the top like fizz!

I've also always thought it unfortunate that Home Depot didn't choose to build a signature tower downtown way back when, but instead put its HQ in that rather unimpressive big boxy thing in Vinings (that doesn't even have the HD name or logo anywhere on it ... why is that?!)

There's a Home Depot Store Support Center sign clearly visible from Paces Ferry Road.

[MathmanMathman]

Originally Posted by arjay57

There are very few major civic projects that haven't benefited immensely from Coke money and leadership.

Consider the Human Rights Museum -- Coke donated the land, and has made major grants to finance the construction.

Take a look at the supporters of the King Center: Our Supporters | The Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change

Or Coke's $6 million gift to Spelman and Morehouse, plus another $1.2 million to help manage the King papers. (And you can guess who the major players were in putting up the $32 million required to buy the papers from the King family in the first place).

Or the $200 million donated to keep Grady Hospital afloat.

It's a very, very long list.

That $200 million came from the Woodruff Foundation.

[cittic10]

I guess coke didn't get the memo.
You're supposed to build your new office building in the suburbs and let your old building sit vacant for years and years until it's finally torn down.

As for philanthropy, it would be really nice if the Coca Cola corporation would build state-of-the-art medical centers across the globe that offered free medical care to all their customers to get treatment for tooth decay, cancer and obesity related conditions, diabetes, heart attacks, kidney problems and so on and so forth. It's really the least they can do for pushing it's toxic obesity juice on the world.

[westau]

Originally Posted by ATLTJL

At least Home Depot has made indelible marks on the city with the donation of the aquarium and Blank owns the Falcons.

Coke sponsors a lot of cultural events and that is cool, but I really think that they should do much more for the city and really leave a major mark. What has Coke done, aside from build World of Coke, which is really just a commercial for itself?

Um, why do you think the Aquarium is on land called Pemberton Place? Because Coke donated it for the Aquarium to be built...

[Newsboy]

Some people clearly need to go back and review their Atlanta history if they think Coca-Cola hasn't given anything to the city.

ROBERT WOODRUFF?! Hello?

Emory University would not hold the stature it does without Coke money. SunTrust Bank would not be based in Atlanta without Coke money. The Olympics would never have come to Atlanta without Coke money.

[MathmanMathman]

Originally Posted by cittic10

As for philanthropy, it would be really nice if the Coca Cola corporation would build state-of-the-art medical centers across the globe that offered free medical care to all their customers to get treatment for tooth decay, cancer and obesity related conditions, diabetes, heart attacks, kidney problems and so on and so forth. It's really the least they can do for pushing it's toxic obesity juice on the world.

They do sell Dasani.

[MathmanMathman]

Originally Posted by Newsboy

Some people clearly need to go back and review their Atlanta history if they think Coca-Cola hasn't given anything to the city.

ROBERT WOODRUFF?! Hello?

Emory University would not hold the stature it does without Coke money. SunTrust Bank would not be based in Atlanta without Coke money. The Olympics would never have come to Atlanta without Coke money.

It's Woodruff's money. Woodruff donated stock to Emory. SunTrust holds Coca-Cola stock. Coke was an Olympics sponsor. I'm sure Pepsi would have sponsored it if Coke didn't. This is money Coke has to pay its stockholders. It's not direct largess from Coca-Cola. Like any corporation, Coke does donate money but not the really big bucks.