Recap: Groundbreaking Event at Iconic Colony Square
L-R: Midtown Alliance CEO + President Kevin Green; North American Properties Managing Partner Mark Toro; Mayor Kasim Reed
At a groundbreaking ceremony on the plaza, North American Properties shared further insight into the Colony Square redevelopment plan that will encompass more than 40,000 square feet of open community gathering places; 143,000 square feet of entertainment, retail and fitness concepts, chef-driven restaurants and Main & Main, the 28,000-square-foot experiential food hall; and 172,000 square feet of new office space. ¶
NAP Managing Partner and Midtown resident Mark Toro announced plans to construct a six-story building wrapping the Arts Center Plaza at the corner of 15th and Peachtree Streets that will house retail and restaurants on the ground floor. The building will also serve as home to FitLab, Colony Square’s first-to-market curated collection of boutique fitness operators offering barre, cycle, Pilates, strength-training, and boxing, along with a juice bar.
Toro also explained how the corner of 14th and Peachtree Streets would be converted into storefront brands that add to the streetscape and amplify Midtown’s city vibe with patio and rooftop dining. The development team shared several other features planned for Colony Square including The Grove, an outdoor gathering place off 14th Street that will become the gateway to the Main & Main food hall concept in development.
Street view of Main & Main
"I can’t wait to see the finished project," said Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed. "The reimagined Colony Square will be a great new addition to the Midtown community, already home to many world-class companies, and marked by its cultural attractions, higher education institutions and noteworthy architecture. In addition, this unique expansion will contribute to the continued success of this already thriving community which currently welcomes 65,000 daytime workers, 15,000 residents and more than six million annual visitors.”
The first phase, opening July 4, 2018, the 50th anniversary of Colony Square’s original groundbreaking, will include street-level restaurants and retail wrapping the 100 building. The second phase, opening March 2019, will feature street-level restaurants wrapping the 400 building. The third phase, opening November 2019, will include a luxury movie theater, Main & Main food hall, modern office space and fitness complex.
Cushman & Wakefield handles office leasing for Colony Square. Hoar Construction is the general contractor. Atlanta-based Lord Aeck Sargent is the architect of record and New York City-based Beyer Blinder Belle is the lead design firm. Site Solutions is the landscape and hardscape architect. Kimley-Horn is the civil engineer.