Chamber begins building renovation, additions

GAINESVILLE - The Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce will begin construction on its 7,000-square-foot building addition and renovation next week.

The $1.3 million office modernization and expansion of the current 3,500 square foot facility in downtown Gainesville is expected to be completed in early 2003.

An official ground breaking will be held in late May.

Architect Steve Hill of H. Lloyd Hill Architects designed the building plans, and Tipton Construction Company will construct the new facility.

The Chamber office and Welcome Center will be closing on Friday for drive-in traffic to accommodate construction efforts.

The Greater Hall Chamber staff will continue to operate from the current facility at 230 E.E. Butler Parkway in downtown Gainesville.

Call-in requests for visitor and other information will still be fulfilled from the Chamber's Welcome Center at its present site, 770-532-6206.

Visitors will also be able to obtain information from the Regional Welcome Center located on I-985 between Oakwood and Flowery Branch.

The new building¹s design theme is "open, bright and high-tech" - in conjunction with the technology focus behind the Chamber¹s HALLmark Initiative campaign to enhance Hall County¹s quality of life with a stronger economic workforce.

"The new headquarters will send a message that Hall County is a regional leader in the new technology age of the 21st century," Chamber President Kit Dunlap said. "This is as much about our 'front door' image as it is about updating a 35-year-old facility."

Dunlap said the updated building would provide space for a technology room featuring a video-conferencing center and other state-of-the-art technology for access by area business and industry.

It would also provide expanded meeting space with a conference room allowing up to 50 people.

The proposed new facility features two pyramid-shaped sky-lit atriums, reflecting the Northeast Georgia mountains and the Chamber¹s logo blended together with an image of advanced technology.

For more information, contact Kit Dunlap at the Greater Hall Chamber of Commerce, 770-532-6206.