Title: The Hub at Peachtree Center
Location of Proejct: Atlanta, Georgia
Project Completion Date: 5/9/2019
Firm Name: The Beck Group

Short Description: In 1968, John Portman conceived Peachtree Center to be a place like no other - with distinctive, modern public spaces, filled with greenery and art. Originally called the Peachtree Center Promenade, the open courts filled with hanging ivy, trees, fountains, and original art were covered with large skylights in the 1980s, turning the outdoor, urban space into the interior-focused Mall at Peachtree Center. In 2019, the new owners of the complex unveiled The Hub at Peachtree Center - a new vision for the space that re-interprets Portman’s original vision to meet the needs of a 21st century community.

Architect's Statement: When it first opened in 1968, Peachtree Center was an innovative, trend-setting open-air development located in the heart of Downtown Atlanta. In 1986, the center was converted into a retail mall, and the open courts filled with greenery and art were removed. Large skylights and a series of escalators were installed, and the Mall turned its back to the street and focused mainly on interior activities. Over the last three decades, disjointed renovations, leaking skylights, aging infrastructure, and noisy escalators contributed to the overall deterioration of the visitor experience.

In crafting the new vision for The Hub, the fundamental design decision was eliminating the skylight and escalators. Besides leaking, the skylights impeded the use of the plaza and negatively impacted thermal comfort in the Mall. The atrium escalators were eliminated and replaced with a new grand stair, and a colorful, hanging art installation now fills the space above. The team refreshed the center with a monochromatic finish palette and introduced warm woods, green vegetation, and black metal to the material palette. New linear skylights provide daylight for the Gallery Level, and at night, internal lights illuminate the plaza above. The plaza hosts community events, like farmers markets and festivals, while also providing the surrounding tenants with a place to socialize and to see and be seen.

The most impactful change was reimagining the plaza level as a 21st-century, central gathering space for Downtown Atlanta. Taking cues from Portman’s original design intent, greenery and fountains are prominent features in the new multi-purpose urban plaza. The reimagined urban plaza welcomes visitors from Peachtree Street with tree-filled planters, benches, and an eye-catching art installation suspended behind the atrium glass wall. Echoing the sloped atrium glass, a show-stopping, angled glass enclosure appears to slip beneath the layer of plaza pavers as it leads pedestrians down to the Gallery Level below. Once inside, suspended wood ceiling panels and skylights highlight the main circulation paths through the complex, serving as a visual wayfinding tool for visitors. Along the way, a variety of seating options support individual work, collaboration, or social interaction.

Above the outdoor plaza, a suspended canopy of linear LED lighting elements not only provides lighting for evening programs, but its programmable colors allow it to participate in community celebrations such as ‘lighting up in pink’ for Brest Cancer Awareness Month.

Flexibility was critical for the design of the reflecting pool at the back of the plaza. This reflecting pool features eight jets that can shoot water up several feet, but the pool itself is only 1/4” deep, allowing visitors and wheelchairs to travel over the water with ease. The fountain fills the plaza with the sounds of splashing water as it reflects the sky above during daytime hours, and sparkles at night from the surrounding city lights. When drained, it becomes an extension of the plaza hardscape to accommodate the staging of large community events.


Design for Well-being:

There are links between employee health and aspects of the physical environment at work, such as integrating greenery and nature and providing spaces that foster connection with other people. Improvements of the physical environment can increase worker satisfaction and increase productivity. These were the primary drivers for the creation of The Hub at Peachtree Center.

Before the renovation, tenants in the surrounding office buildings saw the mall as a transactional space to be occupied for brief moments during lunch or breaks. The lack of natural elements and no comfortable gathering spaces made the mall feel cold and uninviting. Finding inspiration in John Portman’s original vision for the Peachtree Center Promenade, The Hub brings back trees, greenery, and fountains to the reimagined plaza. Commissioned art adds color and inspires imagination in the redefined atrium, with seating options for work or socializing. In addition, all levels of The Hub are now accessible with the installation of new elevators. All these elements make The Hub a welcoming space that provides a respite from work for all tenants in the surrounding office buildings.

The Hub also invites the larger community to share food, art, music, and social connections. Concerts, art installations, and festivals create a fun and relaxing atmosphere that helps to foster a stronger sense of community in Downtown Atlanta. The Green Farmers Market has also provided workers and nearby residents with access to locally grown, fresh produce and goods. At night, the overhead light canopy creates a colorful display that is often in concert with nationwide community celebrations.