The Dupree Marks Its Mission: Urgent and Relevant

The Dupree building in Sandy Springs is a 140,000-square-foot campus designed to support Jewish learning and collaboration to support a thriving Jewish community. The building includes: conference and meeting rooms for lectures, classes, and large-scale programs; dedicated nonprofit office suites, meeting rooms, and shared workspaces; a kosher staging kitchen to support communal events; and a fitness center serving building tenants. In the near future, a kosher café (Honey & Challah) will be open for informal gatherings and connections.

The space and concept were the brainchild of philanthropists David and Helen Zalik along with a group of driven community members “on a mission.”

Joel Marks, Robert Arogeti, Michael Karlin, and Staci Brill serve as stewards of vision, governance, strategy, and implementation, helping shape direction. Additionally, a team of professionals oversee daily operations, programming, partnerships, and execution, translating the vision into reality.

Marks said, “We are united by a shared mission: to build a place where Jewish learning, connection, and action are not abstract ideas, but part of daily life. What surprised us most was the speed and scale of interest. The challenge was not attracting people to the programs or to the building — it was keeping pace with the community’s appetite for substantive, engaging Jewish and Israel content, shared space, and meaningful connection.”

Scaling thoughtfully while maintaining quality, depth, and purpose has been their central focus. Because of demand, plans for additional buildouts are underway.

When The Dupree was purchased less than two years ago, the building was approximately 60 percent empty. Now, The Dupree is full and active nearly every weekday and evening, with programming, meetings, and community use. What stands out is not just individual programs like Lunch & Learns, but rather The Dupree’s commitment to a strategy of teaching deep ideas, incorporating personal reflection, and offering calls to action. They have hosted nationally recognized Jewish and pro-Israel thought leaders, multi-week series that dive into various topics, and discussions about Jewish identity, particular Jewish values, and Israel. In June of last year, Atlanta Jewish Times sponsored a dual piano concert benefiting the fight against Alzheimer’s and supporting Emory Brain Health. ORT hosted a scotch tasting benefit; and an Oct. 7 survivor spoke at an antisemitism training event for teachers who work with teens.

Although leaders eschew the comparison to New York’s 92nd Street “Y,” Brill stated, “The Dupree is attracting attention from Jewish communities across the country as a new model that could be replicated or adapted. We have created a place of intellectual seriousness and Jewish vitality that is shaped by today’s realities. The Dupree’s programming aims to bolster Jewish identity and promote meaningful connections to Israel. We believe The Dupree’s mission is distinct and urgently relevant.”

The building is structured to support commercial tenants and Jewish organizations with spaces that facilitate organic collaboration. It’s home to many Jewish organizations, and the first floor supports programs and meetings. The lobby and lounge were designed to feel welcoming and facilitate community. The upper floors house Jewish nonprofit organizations, including the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, Hillels of Georgia, and a range of others alongside commercial tenants. The attractive “hip” lobby features swinging benches along the sides and versatile set up options. The design of the conference areas opening soon will allow the spaces to be reconfigured for multiple purposes, from large presentations and programs to smaller, more intimate gatherings.

Looking out five years, Marks sees The Dupree as a firmly established national model for Jewish thriving, a destination for substantive, meaningful Jewish and Israel education, a daily crossroads for Jewish professionals and community members, and a place where ideas consistently turn into action.

Marks concluded, “With expanded conference space, a thriving kosher café, and a growing network of organizations and participants, The Dupree will continue to strengthen Jewish identity, connection, locally and beyond.”

Space at The Dupree can be rented for Jewish communal use like education programs, board meetings, and Jewish conferences. They don’t rent spaces for simchas or individual/personal use. Ample free parking is a plus. For more information and list of upcoming programs, please visit https://thedupree.org.