7,000-square-foot second-floor space in Washington Building puts the Chamber at the center of Durham’s business ecosystem

CBC Real Estate today announced that the Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce will relocate to the American Tobacco Campus (ATC), placing the county’s leading economic development organization in the center of one of Durham’s most dynamic business and cultural hubs. The Durham Chamber’s new 7,000-square-foot headquarters on the second floor of the historic Washington Building at 324 Blackwell Street will open this fall.

The move is a strategic step to integrate the Chamber more fully into Durham’s business ecosystem. By joining ATC’s diverse mix of corporate offices, small businesses, startups, and micro-enterprises, the Durham Chamber will be well positioned to connect with—and advocate for—the full spectrum of the county’s business community.

“Relocating to American Tobacco Campus brings us closer to the people and organizations we are here to serve,” said Geoff Durham, President & CEO of the Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce. “For more than a century, we’ve been at the table for Durham’s biggest conversations. This move takes us from skyline views to street-level presence—making us more accessible to our members and ready to act on opportunities as they happen.”

Designed by Little Diversified Architectural Consulting and built by Bridgepoint General Contracting, the Durham Chamber’s new office will serve as a hub for decision-makers, prospective businesses, and community leaders. A flexible 100-person event space–shared with ATC–anchors the design, alongside a 20–25 seat boardroom, private offices, open workstations, a break room with kitchenette, and reception area. Exposed brick, reclaimed flooring, and open ceilings preserve the site’s tobacco factory roots, while modern finishes and presentation technology create an elevated, welcoming environment adaptable to a wide range of uses.

“We are thrilled to welcome the Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce to ATC,” said Eli Bell, Director of Leasing & Asset Management for CBC Real Estate. “They will be right at home here—surrounded by long-standing anchors, growing companies, and new arrivals. They will bring great energy and momentum to this community as we shape ATC’s next chapter.”

The move comes on the heels of ATC’s 20th anniversary, a milestone that marked two decades of transformation from a former tobacco factory into a nationally recognized destination for work, culture, and community. “The Chambers’ new location is remarkable,” said Dom Cole-Johnson, Board Chair of the Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce. “It will provide our members with the opportunity to be at the heart of Durham and enhance new members’ perspectives on our amazing city.”

Marlene Spritzer with Lee & Associates represented the Durham Chamber in the lease negotiations, while Eli Bell and Isabel Rigsbee represented CBC Real Estate.

For more updates on the Durham Chamber’s move to the ATC, visit www.durhamchamber.org.

On Saturday, October 4^th, 2025, the American Tobacco Campus hosted a celebration of automotive design and engineering with the 11^th Luftgekühlt event. German for “air-cooled”, Luftgekühlt is an annual meetup of Porsche owners, drivers, and enthusiasts founded by legendary racer Patrick Long and creative director Howie Idelson. Luft showcases air-cooled cars from Porsche’s history, spanning a period from the company’s founding in 1948 through 1998.

Luft 11 featured approximately 400 cars and included a special 30^th anniversary celebration of the 993-generation Porsche 911 racer. Special guests included racing driver and motorsport executive Bobby Rahal and Motorsports Hall of Famer Tommy Kendall.

The historic American Tobacco Campus provided an ideal backdrop, with cars located throughout renovated tobacco factory, including inside the Fowler, Washington, and Power Plant buildings, along the Old Bull River, and under the iconic Lucky Strike smokestack and water tower.

Luftgekühlt 11 is the largest event ever hosted by the American Tobacco Campus and featured over 9,200 attendees during the seven-hour showcase. Luft 11 is the first Luftgekühlt held on the U.S. East Coast.

Bringing Luft to Durham has been a long time in the making. Luft 7 was originally planned to be held in Durham at the American Tobacco Campus in Fall 2020, but was impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Luft 7 later took place on September 10^th, 2021 at the Bottleworks District in Indianapolis, Indiana.

For more on this iconic event, check out Porche’s newsroom article here: https://newsroom.porsche.com/en/2025/scene-passion/porsche-luftgekuehlt-11-north-carolina-2025-40733.html