Bank of America Plaza (Atlanta)

Bank of America Plaza is a skyscraper located between Midtown Atlanta and Downtown Atlanta. At 311.8 m (1,023 ft), the tower is the 125th-tallest building in the world[6] . It is the 21st tallest building in the U.S.,[7] the tallest building in Georgia,[8] and the tallest building in any U.S. state capital, overtaking the 250 m (820 ft), 50-story One Atlantic Center in height, which previously held the record as Georgia's tallest building. It has 55 stories of office space and was completed in 1992, when it was called NationsBank Plaza.[9] Originally intended to be the headquarters for Citizens & Southern National Bank (which merged with Sovran Bank during construction), it became NationsBank's property following its formation in the 1991 hostile takeover of C&S/Sovran by NCNB.[10]

Bank of America Plaza
location relative to Midtown Atlanta
Bank of America Plaza (Atlanta) (the United States)
Former namesNationsBank Building
C & S Plaza
General information
TypeCommercial offices
Location600 Peachtree Street NE
Atlanta, Georgia, United States
Coordinates33.7708°N 84.3861°W / 33.7708; -84.3861
Construction started1991
Completed1992
CostUS$150 million
OwnerFund managed by Shorenstein Properties
ManagementAffiliate of Shorenstein Properties
Height
Architectural311.8 m (1,023 ft)
Roof284.4 m (933 ft)
Technical details
Floor count55
Floor area1,312,980 sq ft (121,980 m2)
Lifts/elevators24
Design and construction
ArchitectKevin Roche, John Dinkeloo and Associates
Structural engineerCBM Engineers Inc.
Main contractorBeers Construction
Website
Bank of America Plaza
References
[1][2][3][4][5]

Architectural details

The building was developed by Cousins Properties and designed by the architectural firm Kevin Roche John Dinkeloo and Associates LLC.[11] Designed in the Postmodern style reminiscent of Art Deco, it was built in only 14 months, one of the fastest construction schedules for any 1,000 ft (300 m) building. The Plaza's imposing presence is heightened by the dark color of its exterior. It soars into the sky with vertical lines that reinforce its height while also creating an abundance of revenue-generating corner offices. It is located over 3.7 acres (1.5 ha) on Peachtree Street.

There is a 90 ft (27 m) obelisk-like spire at the top of the building echoing the shape of the building as a whole. Most of the spire is covered in 23 karat (96 percent) gold leaf. The open-lattice steel pyramid underneath the obelisk glows yellow-orange at night due to lighting. Originally, the lattice was designed to be clad in glass, but the engineers failed to take the weight of the glass into account. At its most basic, this is a modern interpretation of the Art Deco theme seen in the Empire State Building and the Chrysler Building. The inhabited part of the building actually ends abruptly with a flat roof. On top of this is built a pyramid of girders, which are gilded and blaze at night, with the same type of yellow-orange high-pressure sodium (HPS) lighting now used in most street lights. Its design has been characterized as similar to the Messeturm in Frankfurt am Main, Germany.

The skyscraper, built at a 45-degree angle to the city's street grid, is set back off its eastern and western street boundaries, Peachtree Street and West Peachtree Street, by over 50 yards (45 m). This setback is filled, variously, by driveways, parking garage entrances, potted plants, granite staircases, and sloping lawns. The building directly abuts the sidewalk on North Avenue, its northern boundary, with access to this street through a parking garage entrance and stairs leading from the building's main lobby.

Some urban planners decry the building as a Corbusian "tower in a park", as it actively disengages itself from the urban environment surrounding it, entirely omitting sidewalk-facing retail space. Critics argue that the building encourages its tenants to access it primarily by car and to remain inside the complex during the day. However it is across the street from the MARTA-rail North Avenue station.

Developers have rumored that the land under the surrounding driveways and lawns may be redeveloped into low- and mid-rise mixed-use buildings with street-fronting uses as the area urbanizes and the value of land in Midtown Atlanta increases. In 2014, new sidewalks, pavers, ADA ramps, pedestrian light-poles, improved tree wells, new bike racks and landscaping were planned. These neighborhood improvements were completed by 2016 at a cost of $1.04 million.[12]

Renovations and sustainable building initiative

In 2014, a $30 million renovation to the lobby, health club, and conference facility was completed[13] It has also achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Silver certification. The building and property management were awarded Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce E3 Liquid Assets, a recognition in water sustainability.[14] Midtown Atlanta's Midtown Alliance also recognized it as an EcoDistrict Green Luminary for its significant commitment to sustainability practices.[15]

Beginning in 2016, $15 million will be invested over the next few years to significantly modernize the common areas including the lobby, west wing and some deferred maintenance.

Building ownership

BentleyForbes acquired the building from Cousins Properties in 2006 for $436 million, a record price at $348 per square foot. In 2012, LNR and lenders acquired the property via foreclosure.[16]

In 2013, CWCapital took over the asset management, sponsoring and representing the building's bond holders from LNR and hired real estate services company Cushman & Wakefield and property manager Onyx Equities.[13]

In 2016, a fund managed by San Francisco-based Shorenstein Properties acquired the building. CBRE Group was hired to head leasing efforts.[17]

The largest tenant in the building is Troutman Sanders, a law firm.

The building appears as the headquarters of Westgroup Energy in the AMC period drama Halt and Catch Fire.

  • Street-level sign
  • View of the building from the Westin Peachtree Plaza
  • View from the west
  • View of the tower at dusk
  • View of the building's pinnacle at night
  • View of the building while approaching from Peachtree Street
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See also

References
  1. "Bank of America Plaza". CTBUH Skyscraper Center.
  2. Bank of America Plaza at Emporis
  3. Bank of America Plaza at Glass Steel and Stone (archived)
  4. "Bank of America Plaza". SkyscraperPage.
  5. Bank of America Plaza at Structurae
  6. "The Skyscraper Center". www.skyscrapercenter.com.
  7. Fernandez, Bob (21 January 2014). "Tallest between Manhattan and Chicago? An Atlanta peach". The Philadelphia Inquirer.
  8. "Bank of America Plaza Atlanta". Emporis. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
  9. Trubey, J. Scott (2012-02-08). "Bank of America Plaza becomes Atlanta's priciest repo". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved 2012-07-05.
  10. Hayes, Thomas (1991-07-22). "Big Merger Of Banks Called Set". The New York Times. Retrieved 2007-09-28.
  11. "Bank of America Plaza". Cousins Properties Incorporated. Archived from the original on 2007-07-08. Retrieved 2007-09-28.
  12. "Construction to Kick Off for Peachtree Street SONO Project in 2014". Midtown Alliance. Archived from the original on 22 March 2014. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
  13. Sams, Douglas (17 January 2014). "BofA Plaza launches new strategy". Atlanta Business Chronicle. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
  14. "2014 E3 Awards". Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved 21 March 2014.
  15. "Midtown Alliance Recognizes 19 Businesses, Buildings as 2014 EcoDistrict 'Luminaries'". Midtown Alliance. Archived from the original on 31 December 2014. Retrieved 2 December 2014.
  16. Trubey, J. Scott (February 8, 2012). "Bank of America Plaza becomes Atlanta's priciest repo". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
  17. Sams, Douglas (January 7, 2016). "Shorenstein Properties buys Bank of America Plaza". American City Business Journals.
Records
Preceded by
U.S. Bank Tower (Los Angeles)		 Tallest building in America outside of New York and Chicago
1992–2016		 Succeeded by
Wilshire Grand Center
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