EV maker Rivian said on Tuesday it has opened “Rivian Commons,” a new public gathering space located within its East Coast headquarters site in Atlanta, Georgia.
The Commons occupies the ground-floor lobby of Portman Holdings’ Junction Krog District building.
Rivian said the space will serve as “a hub for people interested in learning more about the brand, its products, and the company’s landmark investment in Georgia.”
The company distinguish its ‘Rivian Commons’ locations from its product-focused showrooms.
The company founded and led by RJ Scaringe says the socially oriented locations are focused on community.
The concept of community-oriented stores has been developed by several Chinese carmakers.
Among them is Shanghai-based EV maker Nio, which operates more than 100 community-focused locations across China that include cafés, children’s play areas, libraries and lounge spaces.
At the new Atlanta location, visitors of the new Rivian space can learn about the company’s progress in Georgia, explore its vehicles, and view renderings of its upcoming EV plant, where construction has recently begun.
The planned plant, in Stanton Springs North near Social Circle, is expected to employ 7,500 people and produce up to 400,000 vehicles annually when fully built.
The top floor of the Junction Krog District building is set to become the company’s East Coast headquarters.
Rivian had announced in July that Atlanta would become its East Coast headquarters as part of a $5 billion investment in Georgia, which includes the construction of the Social Circle manufacturing facility.
The new office is scheduled to open fully before the year end and expand further in 2026 as work progresses on the factory.
The California-based brand, which produces the R1T pickup and R1S SUV, said the East Coast headquarters will employ about 100 people by the end of next year and up to 500 once it is fully operational.
“This is an important first step in the establishment of our East Coast Headquarters, which we expect to expand rapidly in the new year as we prepare the space for occupancy this winter,” said Jimmy Knauf, Rivian’s executive vice president for facilities.
The company said it plans to deepen partnerships with universities, technical colleges, and local, regional, and state institutions as it scales operations in the state.
