Located in the prestigious Buckhead community of Atlanta and the pre-eminent design center for the Southeast, ADAC celebrates its 60th anniversary this year. Opening its doors in 1961, the center was one of the first ventures from renowned Atlanta architect and developer John C. Portman, Jr., forever changing the landscape of design in Atlanta and throughout the Southeast. Originally designed as a display and distribution center for the manufacturers of fabrics, furniture, lighting, kitchen and bath fixtures, flooring, wall coverings and accessories, the earliest ADAC complex consisted of two long, parallel one-story buildings connected at either end by brick screen walls.
As the demand for luxury interior design resources grew, Portman expanded the center in 1970 by designing a two-story addition that connected the two buildings at the rear of the property. The three elements faced an open interior court with parking, plantings, and fountains. Eight years later, second and third middle floors were added, along with a classic Portman-style atrium at the center of the initial two-story expansion. ADAC continued to grow with the addition of fourth and fifth floors to the building’s central core in 1982 and the purchase of the warehouse facility next door in 1986, creating new showroom space in what is now known as ADAC West.
Throughout the years, ADAC has continued to change and grow with the design community. By 2006, the design center was seen not only as a resource for finding new products but also as a place for networking and learning. In response, Portman began an extensive renovation that included the creation of a welcoming Designer Lounge and a Presentation Room complex, making ADAC a choice event venue for many of the world’s top design talents including Bunny Williams, Charlotte Moss, Suzanne Kasler, Darryl Carter, Sheila Bridges, Ray Booth and Martyn Lawrence Bullard. As technology and the media created an ever-increasing consumer demand for information about the design industry, ADAC opened its doors to the public in 2012 with General Manager Katie Miner leading the charge.
In 2015, the Design Studios opened on-site giving select trade professionals – architects, interior designers and high-end custom home builders – the opportunity to collaborate on ideas with clients and use ADAC as their sample library. The addition further elevated the center, making ADAC the Southeast’s essential design destination and showcasing the value of working with professionals who can deftly navigate the campus. After the passing of Portman, ADAC was acquired by International Market Centers (IMC) in November 2018 and joined the world’s largest operator of premier showroom space for the furnishings, home décor and gift industries.
In these 60 years, ADAC has been home to some of the most beloved brands, showroom owners, and designers including Hal Ainsworth, Winton Noah, Ernest ‘Ernie’ Gaspard, Charles ‘Jerry’ Pair, Dorothy ‘Dotty’ Travis, and many more. These iconic names are among those who have helped shape both ADAC throughout out the years, as well as the Southeast design community.
“The power of design is everlasting, and I am honored to continue on John Portman’s legacy here at ADAC,” says Miner. “As we celebrate our 60th anniversary and beyond, we look back on the incredible leaders and brands that have helped shaped who we are and where we are going. We look forward to continue leading the way for the design industry in the Southeast, and the nation as a whole – inspiring and encouraging the next generation of designers and design lovers.”
Today, ADAC is regarded as the center of the design world in the Southeast and one of the leading design centers in the nation. The bustling 550,000-sq.-ft. campus, which is home to more than 60 showrooms, 26 design studios and two restaurants, features a curated mix of furniture, fabrics, rugs, lighting, tile and stone, kitchen and bath products, wallcoverings, fine art and accessories. It also serves as an educational resource for both designers and consumers, hosting more than 150 events each year, including signature industry presentations, celebrity and media events and networking opportunities.
As ADAC marks six decades in the industry, it celebrates creativity, collaboration and the enduring power of design – inspiring generations to continue shaping the world of design in the Southeast and across the nation. The landmark anniversary will be commemorated at this year’s fall market, Discover ADAC, from Sept. 21-23. Additional details on programming will be announced at a later date.
