Norfolk Southern Corporation officially opened its state-of-the-art headquarters in Midtown Atlanta, right in the heart of Tech Square.

The company, which provides freight transportation for industrial, agriculture, energy, consumer products and e-commerce, employs 19,000 employees across its footprint – 3,000 of whom will operate out of the new Atlanta headquarters.

“There are many reasons we are proud to call Atlanta home,” said Jim Squires, chairman, president and CEO of Norfolk Southern. “The city is diverse and culturally rich, with amenities that will ensure our employees and their families thrive. We are committed that Norfolk Southern and its people will be more than just residents of Atlanta – we plan to be engaged community partners, committed to the future of our new home.”

The 750,000-square-foot building was specifically designed for sustainability and employee health and wellness. Built to LEED version 4 specifications, the Norfolk Southern headquarters aims to be one of the first LEED Gold certified office buildings in Georgia. Building features include:

• Two modern architecture glass towers with a connecting campus-style hub
• Touchless technology from top to bottom
• Open workspaces, street-level plazas and rooftop terraces
• Employee amenities, including a restaurant-like food hall, 24/7 fitness center, on-site daycare, coffee shop, art installations and an artist in residence studio

When Norfolk & Western merged with Southern Railway in 1982 to form Norfolk Southern, the headquarters was in Norfolk, Va., while the company’s operations and technology leadership was located in Atlanta. The new headquarters building enhances the company’s presence in Georgia, which dates to the mid-1840s.

“Norfolk Southern’s presence will help accelerate the city’s competitive advantage in technology. Today our data scientists, engineers and IT professionals are using artificial intelligence, machine vision and advanced analytics to make the railroad industry safer, and improve service for our customers,” added Squires. “At the same time, we will continue to lead our industry in sustainability. Today’s locomotives are the most environmentally responsible way to move freight over land.”