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September 25, 2017
Ackerman & Co. Founder Charles S. Ackerman Dies at 84
Atlanta commercial real estate icon developed projects that changed the city’s skyline
ATLANTA, September 25, 2017 – Charles S. Ackerman, the founder and chairman of Ackerman & Co., passed away at the age of 84 on Friday, September 22.
A visionary who transformed Atlanta’s skyline, Ackerman founded the commercial real estate company that bears his name in 1967 and established it as one of the largest in the Southeast. To date, the firm has developed and acquired nearly 35 million square feet of office, medical industrial, retail and mixed-use space, and built an investment portfolio valued at $1 billion.
“Charlie was a mentor to myself and so many others. He was my partner and friend, and it was a great honor to be a small part of his life over the past 20 years,” said Kris Miller, president of Ackerman & Co. “As we grieve, we can be heartened that the firm he founded was in a very strong position on his passing. All of us at Ackerman will be proud to continue his legacy.”
His impact on the commercial real estate industry was national in scope. In Atlanta, he changed the skyline of Buckhead in 1973 with the development of that district’s first high-rise office building – Tower Place – a project that contributed to Buckhead’s emergence as the city’s preeminent financial hub. That landmark project was followed by the development of Swissotel (now the Westin Buckhead Atlanta), the former Rio Shopping Center in Midtown Atlanta and the Crowne Pointe office project in Central Perimeter, among others.
Ackerman’s business success and impact on the community extended well beyond commercial real estate. After sustaining life-threatening injuries following a robbery in his home in the late 1970s Ackerman was inspired to found Ackerman Security Systems Inc. After regional success, the company was sold in 2015 and continues to grow nationwide under the Ackerman moniker as a trusted name in security.
He was the founder of REAP Atlanta – Real Estate Apprenticeship Program for African Americans; member of the Board of Directors of the Buckhead Community Improvement District; member of the National Board of Governors for the American Jewish Committee; chairman of the board and advisory board member for Emory University’s Michael C. Carlos Museum; member of the Board of Trustees, Clark Atlanta University; member of the Advisory Board of the University of North Carolina; member of the Board of Trustees, Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta; member of the Board of Directors, American ORT America; and founder and member of Board of Directors, Temple Sinai.
Ackerman is survived by his daughters, Carlyn Ackerman and Paige Ackerman Prill; grandson, Dylan Henry Prill; brother, Dr. Robert Ackerman; and step-brother, Alan Rosenthal.
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. The company, founded in 1967, retains an expert team of more than 100 real estate professionals. To date, Ackerman & Co. has developed and acquired nearly 35 million square feet of office, medical, industrial, retail and mixed-use space, has nearly 8 million square feet under management, and maintains an investment portfolio valued at $1 billion. For more information on Ackerman & Co., visit www.ackermanco.com