Material + Form

From the start, the site was ripe with design potential. According to Henri Jova, Colony Square’s original architect, Jim Cushman approached him with the following: “If I assembled ten or twelve acres at the corner of Fourteenth and Peachtree, what would you build on it?” The reimagination of Colony Square tapped into that potential, and the result is at once historically reverent and highly contemporary.

 

Today, the site celebrates Colony Square’s mid-century modern architecture and simultaneously uplifts visitors through vertical readings, dynamically reflective materials, and a sense of light and air.

Ground Floor Retail

Central to the design of the reimagined Colony Square are contemporary additions that pull retail and dining closer to the street. The additions extend the subtle curve of the cast-in-place concrete bases of Buildings 100 and 400, deploying minimalist metal frames that contrast with the site’s historic fabric.

  • A below-grade terrace vernacular, surrounding much of Buildings 100 and 400, previously isolated retail activity from the pedestrian activity of Midtown Atlanta.

  • While only a few steps separated Colony Square’s shops and restaurants from the street, pedestrians experienced an outsized sense of disconnection.

  • Along the property’s Peachtree Street frontage, retail activity and pedestrian activity now blend—each animating the other.

  • Contemporary interventions at the bases of Buildings 100 and 400 activate the edge of Colony Square, inviting the public into the previously insular site.

  • Throughout Colony Square, varied grade levels previously separated the site’s uses and prevented intuitive circulation patterns.

  • Today, the pedestrians, shoppers, workers, and occupants of Colony Square are empowered to freely move through the site.

  • The newly reconfigured and expanded base of Building 100 is now home to Starbucks and a landscaped outdoor terrace.

  • Metal, glass, and wood are thoughtfully deployed across the expanded retail facades of Buildings 100 and 400, providing a distinct site identity that still supports individual retailer expression.

  • In addition to heightening retail visibility, the contemporary additions catalyzed the regrading of the site, improving physical access throughout Colony Square.

  • Hometown favorite Chick-fil-A, previously located at the base of Building 400, has debuted in a new, highly visible location overlooking the Grove.

Building 500

The materiality of Colony Square’s new architectural elements, Building 500 included, is intentionally lighter than that of the site’s historic concrete. At the same time, strong lines and a sense of verticality are shared features among the original structures and their contemporary neighbors.

  • Located at Colony Square’s northwest corner, Building 500 is in continual dialogue with another new addition—Building 300—and with one of the property’s historic towers.

  • The subtle use of contrasting materials on the Building 500 facade adds visual interest and echoes the vertical readings experienced throughout Colony Square.

  • Building 500 includes five floors of office space, a contemporary lobby, and ground floor retail that actively engages with Colony Square’s interior pathways and the public streetscape.

  • The gridded window module of Buildings 100 and 400 informed select aspects of the new office building’s geometry and facade.

  • Comprising more than 135,000 square feet, Building 500 is home to global law firm Jones Day.

  • On the building’s fourth floor, an expansive terrace provides outdoor access for office workers and lively views of Peachtree Street.

  • Building 500 stands only six stories tall, in contrast to its 22-story neighbor, yet both structures convey a tangible verticality.

  • The curve of the building’s northwest facade creates an architectural tension between Building 500 and its historic predecessors at Colony Square.

  • Defying initial readings of its curved northwestern facade, Building 500 deploys the same paneled glazing on all of its sides.

Hospitality Hub

On the southern end of the property, a uniquely windowless structure is home to a luxury dine-in movie theater and a 20,000-square-foot food hall. The program lent itself to distinctive architectural choices, offering both compatibility and contrast with the historic fabric of Colony Square.

  • The new building is adjacent to Building 100 and is in dialogue with Building 400 across the Plaza.

  • The building’s cladding is regular and rhythmic, echoing the modular geometry of Colony Square’s historic towers.

  • The exterior features three parallel rows of panels; the central row is transposed, enabling dynamic plays of light across the facade.

  • At the north end of the building, the Plaza connects with the Patio, an indoor-outdoor environment for gathering and dining.

  • North American Properties (NAP) unveiled the Plaza and honored the project’s progress in October 2020, an important moment for providing safe, outdoor gathering opportunities.

  • A tradition of NAP’s Atlanta office, the team celebrated with a Tequila Blessing, ensuring the success and prosperity of Colony Square.

  • Colony Square has embraced the opportunity to serve as “Midtown’s Living Room,” fueling growth in the burgeoning commercial, residential, and arts district.

  • Viewed from across the Colony Square site, the distinctive exterior of the new theater building provides visual interest.

  • The building, which is visible from outside the property along 14th Street, also acts as an orienting beacon for visitors of Colony Square.

  • As with several design decisions throughout the reimagination of Colony Square, the building’s architecture contributes to a strong sense of place.