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Official word on Atlanta United FC's Marietta headquarters may be delayed, but the club is making plans anyway. AUFC has hired local firm tvsdesign to come up with blueprints for the facility, it announced in a Friday press release. The announcement specifically mentions the location on Franklin Road in Cobb County.
"The guiding theme for this facility is to imagine more," design principal Rob O'Keefe said in a prepared statement. "We wanted to design a state-of-the-art smart building that reflects core values of the rising, tech-savvy and environmentally-focused fan base. Atlanta United's home base needs to suit a wide variety of needs — from those of the players and the employees behind the team to fans and community members. Our firm brings a depth of experience to this complex design, and we're excited to create a training facility that embodies the essence of Atlanta United's brand and culture."
Tvsdesign is one of the firms enlisted for Mercedes-Benz Stadium, the forthcoming home of AUFC and the Atlanta Falcons. Plans for the 33-acre site that will house the club's headquarters and training ground include six fields and a 28,000-square-foot facility for first-team and academy players, along with the club's executive and soccer operations staff. The project's price is estimated to be north of $50 million, and the goal is to have it finished by 2017.
Design of the facility will ensure "an inspirational space for players, staff, visitors and supporters and will foster an open, collaborative environment," according to the announcement. The building will be "a representation of Atlanta United's cultural pillars and will be a flexible space allowing for future growth." Once the headquarters is complete, AUFC will hold open training sessions and tournaments in an attempt to engage with the community and maximize positive impact in the area.
Even though an official vote on the project from the Marietta City Council has been delayed, Mayor Steve Tumlin expects construction to stay on schedule.