While France and Germany ceremonially ended centuries of conflict with the signing of the Elysée Treaty in 1963, it was a first for the U.S. when the two countries’ cultural institutions moved in together under the same roof in Midtown Atlanta.

Both the French and German ambassadors to the U.S. came from Washington to Atlanta to celebrate the occasion Jan. 28, which ended with the raising of French and German flags at Colony Square.

Wolfgang Krueger, executive director of the Goethe-Zentrum, also known as the German Cultural Center, told GlobalAtlanta that he had been looking for a solution to accommodate the center’s need for space ever since he took over management of the nonprofit in 2000.

Meanwhile, Hélène Touré, executive director of the Alliance Française, was aware that the French cultural center’s lease was running out and that the organization needed an auditorium it didn’t have at the Two Midtown Plaza building where it was located.

Both added that the practical decision to share space is more than merely a marriage of convenience since they already were collaborating on certain cultural programs. The expanded space at 1197 Peachtree St. would have the necessary classrooms for both French and German language instruction, a large conference room, a spacious entrance and an outdoor terrace.

While the directors admitted that there was some skepticism from their boards when they first voiced the idea, the advantages prompted unanimous support.

The two organizations will collaborate on certain programs including lectures and films, especially those of general European interest, but they will continue to hold their specifically national programs separately.

For instance, the Goethe Zentrum already is planning for an Oct. 20 anniversary of German unity while the festivities for the annual July 14 Bastille Day celebration also are in the works.

Goethe Zentrum also is promoting the return of the Max Raabe and the Palast Orchester March 7 at the Fox Theatre, while the Alliance is in the process of helping to organize the francophonie events beginning March 19.

To learn more about the Alliance Française’s activities, go to www.afatl.com and for the German Cultural Center, www.goethe.de/ins/us/atl