foster+partners to transform a long-neglected and underutilized area in atlanta

CENTENNIAL YARDS – A $5 BILLION TRANSFORMATION OF PARKING LOTS AND FORMER RAIL YARDS

the city of atlanta has announced the approval of the foster + partners-designed centennial yards project. the master site plan is part of a $5 billion transformation of parking lots and former rail yards into an experiential and inclusive mixed-use development. the project, which has been designed in collaboration with perkins+will, aims to position centennial yards as a leading model for urban design and placemaking.

the project closely studied the historic city grid of the surrounding neighborhoods to create a walkable urban environment that celebrates the outdoor lifestyle of atlanta.

all images by DBOX for centennial yards

12 MILLION SQUARE FEET OF CREATIVE OFFICE SPACE, RETAIL, MIXED-USE HOUSING, AND MORE

home to the burgeoning film industry and tech sector, atlanta is the southeast’s fastest growing city. centennial yards, a project by foster+partners in collaboration with perkins+will, will bring 12 million square feet of creative office space, retail, mixed-use housing, and more to atlanta’s long-neglected and underutilized area. from soaring new towers dotting the skyline down to a more connected and pedestrianized street grid, the plan can house a variety of functions from office buildings and hotels to essential retail and residential apartments for a mix of incomes.

a new 50-acre walkable, mixed-use city center will welcome pedestrians while bringing neighborhoods together. the pedestrianized routes, shared surfaces and landscaped plazas form a vibrant public realm that can accommodate a broad range of experiences and opportunities while providing outdoor gathering spaces.

centennial yards is one of the largest sports and entertainment-anchored developments in the country, surrounded by the region’s top attractions, including the atlanta hawks’ state farm arena and mercedes-benz stadium — home to the atlanta falcons and atlanta united — on the east, as well as MARTA stations connecting the site with the rest of the city. by design, the plan seeks to complement these cultural magnets with a series of people-focused spaces and walkable urban blocks.

‘we are extremely excited to be part of centennial yards,’ said armstrong yakubu, senior partner, foster + partners. ‘we believe this project is a unique opportunity to stitch the fabric of this great city together with state-of-the-art buildings, amenities and public spaces that will transform this part of downtown atlanta. creating a new 50-acre walkable, mixed-use city center, it is designed to welcome pedestrians, bring neighborhoods together and to be sustainable for generations to come. furthering the city’s wider renewal efforts, the new park adjacent to five points station exemplifies our sustainable focus. we look forward to working with centennial yards company on this rare opportunity to create a truly forward-looking plan for atlanta.’