Location
Why will the National Center for Civil and Human Rights be in Atlanta?
Atlanta and Georgia as a whole played a unique and principal leadership role in the modern civil rights movements. Atlanta was the meeting place for leaders and organizations from SNCC (Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee) to SCLC (Southern Christian Leadership Conference) to CORE (Congress of Racial Equality). The people, ideas and institutions in Atlanta and Georgia continue to influence and shape human rights efforts nationally and internationally. From women’s rights to gay rights to freedom movements across all of the continents, Atlanta is a key place for discussing these issues. Atlanta is one of only two cities in the world with two Nobel Peace Prize Winners: Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and President Jimmy Carter. The 1996 host of the Olympic Games and home to the busiest airport in the world, Atlanta has the capacity to host millions of visitors at a time, and is easily accessible from a variety of population centers.
Where in the city will the Center be located?
The Center will be built as a part of Pemberton Place in Downtown Atlanta. Pemberton Place is the home of the Georgia Aquarium and The World of Coca-Cola and is adjacent to Centennial Olympic Park. The property is located at the corner of Ivan Allen Boulevard and Centennial Olympic Park drive and is approximately 2.5 acres. The Coca-Cola Company generously donated the land for the facility.
What were the criteria for choosing the site?
The Working Group identified several criteria for a successful site. In descending order they are:
- Potential visitation traffic (both existing and projected)
- Acquisition cost effectiveness (in order to open the Center debt-free)
- Ability to develop the site in a timely fashion
- Ample physical space to accommodate the Center
- Access to transportation options including public transportation
- Potential to drive development of surrounding area