Our News
August 13, 2024
Ogle School to Open First Georgia Location at Lee + White
ATLANTA, August 13, 2024 – Lee + White, the adaptive reuse development in Atlanta’s West End, will soon be home to Ogle School, a 15,839-square-foot cosmetology and esthetics school. This will be Ogle School’s 10th location and its first in Georgia, adding to its established presence in Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio, Texas. This strategic expansion highlights Ogle School’s commitment to delivering premier beauty education and career opportunities to a broader audience.
“We are incredibly excited to expand Ogle School into the vibrant and dynamic Atlanta market. After extensive research, we found that Atlanta, with its rich cultural heritage and thriving community, is the perfect place for our first location outside of Texas,” said John Blair, CEO of Ogle School. “Lee + White’s unique blend of history and modernity makes it an ideal location for our school, and we are thrilled to partner with MDH Partners, Ackerman Retail, and Cushman & Wakefield to bring our vision to life. We look forward to becoming an integral part of this community and helping our students pursue their passions and careers in cosmetology and esthetics.”
With a reputation for excellence, Ogle School offers cosmetology and esthetics programs that emphasize salon-modeled, student-centered training and career development. The new Atlanta campus will occupy a prime second-floor space at the front of the 929 Building, a refurbished warehouse featuring high ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows. Classes are set to begin in January 2025, providing students with a modern learning environment designed to foster creativity and professional growth.
“Lee + White continues to attract a diverse mix of users that want to be part of this development’s energy and creative environment. We’re thrilled that this successful school is expanding into Georgia and has picked Lee + White as its first location outside the Lonestar State,” said Leo Wiener, President of Ackerman Retail. “Ogle School will be a great addition to our tenant lineup while creating career opportunities for the students who enroll in its programs.”
Porter Henritze and Melanie Garlock of Cushman & Wakefield completed the lease with Ogle School on behalf of ownership. Del Early of Carter Hill Commercial Real Estate Advisors represented Ogle School.
“With university costs rising, people are looking for more options outside of the traditional four-year college experience,” said Jeff Small, CEO and Founder of MDH Partners. “Ogle School brings new opportunities for skills training and job growth for the West End community and beyond. We look forward to seeing students enjoying the many retailers and restaurants at Lee + White soon.”
Ogle School joins a varied tenant roster. Recent additions include the new North American headquarters for Triumph Motorcycles, creative offices for KIPP Metro Atlanta Schools, and a neighborhood health center for Grady Health System.
The mixed-use Lee + White development, owned by partners Ackerman & Co. and MDH Partners, is a growing community hub of business and entertainment encompassing 442,562 square feet. In the current phase of the redevelopment, the investment partners added a food hall, more than 200,000 square feet of creative offices, new retail, and the “Great Lawn” central gathering and event space. Lee + White provides convenient access via the nearby West End MARTA rail station and all of Atlanta’s interstates. A planned MARTA station at Murphy Crossing, recently announced by the City of Atlanta, will be a short walk from Lee + White via the Atlanta Westside BeltLine.
About Ogle School
Ogle School has been providing quality education since 1973. Its curriculum is constantly updated to keep up with industry trends. Ogle School offers two programs: cosmetology and esthetics.
The school provides students with real-world salon experience through student-powered salons. The instructors at Ogle School are skilled and committed educators who provide ongoing training to ensure students reach their fullest potential. In addition to technical skills, students learn non-technical skills such as communication, business management, and people skills. The school also offers career assistance to help students find job opportunities after graduation.
About Lee + White
Reimagining the West End’s former “Warehouse Row,” the 442,562-square-foot Lee + White is Atlanta’s next trendsetting adaptive re-use project. The newest phase of development at Lee + White by co-owners Ackerman & Co. and MDH Partners is bringing creative offices, a food hall, unique retail and expanded BeltLine access, adding to the established businesses that made Lee + White a go-to destination for foodies and beer lovers in the first phase of the development.
This transformation continues in a spirit that recognizes the West End’s rich history, while creating a gathering place for the community and a hub for business. The growing roster at Lee + White includes ASW Exchange, Best End Brewing, Beya Salon Studios, Boxcar, Carbice, A Chiropractic Hub, Cultured South, Doux South Pickles, Grady Health System, Honeysuckle Gelato (production), Hop City, JTEC Energy, KIPP Metro Atlanta Schools, Mac Stadium, Monday Night Garage, The Overlook Boulder + Fitness, Plywood People, Team Rehab, Triumph Motorcycles, Utility Energy Services, Westside Dental and Wild Heaven Beer. Eateries at the Lee + White food hall showcase a mix of local favorites and regional and national concepts. For more information, visit www.leeandwhiteatl.com
About MDH Partners
MDH Partners is an Atlanta-based real estate investment company managing its discretionary funds targeting industrial real estate across the United States on behalf of its institutional investors. Founded in 2005 as the successor to a fifty-year-old local real estate development company, MDH Partners has led and/or participated in over $6 billion (90 million square feet) of acquisitions, developments, and asset management as an advisor and investor. For more information, visit www.mdhpartners.com
About Ackerman & Co.
Headquartered in Atlanta, Ackerman & Co. is a privately held, full-service commercial real estate firm focused on providing quality investment, brokerage, management and development services in the Southeast and Texas. The company, founded in 1967, retains an expert team of 100 real estate professionals. To date, Ackerman & Co. has developed and acquired 44 million square feet of office, medical, industrial, retail and mixed-use space, has 4 million square feet under management, and maintains an investment portfolio valued at $1 billion. For more information, visit www.ackermanco.com
About Cushman & Wakefield
Cushman & Wakefield (NYSE: CWK) is a leading global real estate services firm that delivers exceptional value for real estate occupiers and owners. Cushman & Wakefield is among the largest real estate services firms with approximately 52,000 employees in over 400 offices and approximately 60 countries. In 2022, the firm had revenue of $10.1 billion across core services of property, facilities and project management, leasing, capital markets, and valuation and other services. To learn more, visit www.cushmanwakefield.com or follow @CushWake on Twitter.