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2010
Lowes Atlanta Hotel Anchors 12th and Midtown
Loews Atlanta Hotel, a member of Associated Luxury Hotels International, is the new centerpiece of 12th and Midtown, a mixed-use development. With 414 guest rooms, more than 25,000 square-feet of ballroom and meeting space and eleven Restaurant, the hotel opened in April 2010.
Women's Professional Soccer League to Create Atlanta Beat
Women's Professional Soccer, a league which debuted in April 2009, added Atlanta to its expansion list for April 2010. The Atlanta Beat is the ninth team in the league and the second professional women's sports team in Atlanta.
Atlanta Botanical Garden Continues to Grow
On May 1, 2010, the Atlanta Botanical Garden completed Phase II of its expansion with the opening of Canopy Walk, a 600-foot-long, 45-foot-high "skywalk" through the treetops of Storza Woods. The Garden also transformed the current main parking lot into an Edible Garden and outdoor cooking demonstration kitchen.
Historic Downtown Department Store Converted into Chic Event and Dining Space
The terrace level of the former Macy's department store at 180 Peachtree Street was converted into an 18,000 square-foot exhibition hall and re-named 200 Peachtree. The Grand Atrium opened in summer 2010. The top two floors will house boutique shops and restaurants including a Meehan's Public House, which opened in March 2010.
Sky Bridge to Link Marriott Marquis and Hyatt Regency
In August 2010, Atlanta Marriott Marquis and Hyatt Regency completed construction on a new pedestrian sky bridge that links the hotels over Peachtree Center Avenue. Along with the bridge completed in March 2009 that connects the Atlanta Marriott Marquis and Hilton Atlanta, the hotels now offer meeting planners and guests seamless connection of 4,341 guest rooms and nearly 450,000 square feet of meeting space for conventions.
Two Hotels Open Near Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
The SpringHill Suites Atlanta Airport Gateway headed off a major expansion taking place at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The Atlanta Airport Marriott Gateway opened in August 2010, complete with 403 rooms and more than 300,000 square feet of event space. Both properties are adjacent to the Georgia International Convention Center and utilize an automated people mover connected to the airport.
Hyatt Regency Atlanta to Begin $60 Million Renovation
The Hyatt Regency Atlanta began a three-year face-lift in August 2010, starting with a major renovation of its lobby. Changes will include a new lobby bar, restaurant and coffee shop and will affect about 36,000 square feet of lobby space. The lobby renovation is expected to be complete by summer 2011, making way for a $22 million overhaul of the main tower guest rooms and upgrade of the main ballroms and meeting spaces.
$6 Million Beautification Project to Begin Along Marrietta Street
In August 2010, construction began to improve the sidewalks and streets of downtown Atlanta's most popular tourist spots around Centennial Olympic Park. Marietta Street and Centennial Olympic Park Drive will be spruced up with new concrete and decorative paver sidewalks, improved pedestrian lighting and plantings of flowers and trees. The $6 million project will also improve the safety of the streets with high-visibility crosswalk markings and ADA-compliant sidewalks.
Sol Melia Puts its First U.S. Flag in Atlanta
The third largest hotel chain in Europe, Sol Melia, purchased the former Renaissance Atlanta Hotel Downtown and transformed the 502-room property into Melia Hotel Atlanta in October 2010. Sol Melia chose Atlanta as their U.S. market debut to capture the city's large volume of international travelers.
Westin Peachtree Plaza Completes Largest Exterior Hotel Renovation in Western Hemisphere
The Westin Peachtree Plaza replaced all 6,350 windows in the 73-story hotel with the goal of restoring the hotel as a focal point of Atlanta's skyline. Designed by John Portman in 1976, the Westin Peachtree Plaza is a 73-story tower, topped by the tri-level, revolving Sun Dial Restaurant Bar & View. The Westin Peachtree Plaza is the fifth tallest building in Atlanta and remains the tallest hotel in the Western Hemisphere. The project was completed in October 2010.
Piedmont Park Gets a 53-Acre Expansion, Doubling its Size
Scheduled to open in November 2010, an expansion to Midtown's Piedmont Park will nearly double the size of the green space. The new design will feature a public skate park, basketball courts, an interactive fountain and expanded hiking trails and athletic fields. There will also be a new visitor's center and an 800-space parking facility built to LEED standards.
2011
Georgia Aquarium Expands with New Dolphin Exhibit
The Georgia Aquarium is adding a $110 million dolphin exhibit that will open in 2011. The additional 84,000 square-feet of space and 1.3 million gallon exhibit will include dolphin encounters, viewing windows and dolphin shows.
InterContinental Hotels Group Launches Two Additional Hotel Indigo Properties
Atlanta's second Hotel Indigo will open on Ellis Street in Downtown in February 2011. Formerly the historic Carnagie building, the property will have 155 rooms and more than 3,500 square feet of restaurant space. Hotel Indigo College Park, near Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, will open late 2011 with retro, eclectic decor. This 142-room property will be one block from the College Park MARTA stationand near both the Atlanta airport and Georgia International Convention Center.
Legoland Opens in Atlanta
A Legoland Discoery Centre will open in metro Atlanta in spring 2011. At 35,000 square feet, the facility will include rides, play areas, a cafe, gift shop and a replica of the Atlanta skyline made from 250,000 legos.
Pirate Museum Constructed Near Centennial Olympic Park
In 2011, Pirate World will join the impressive list of attractions near Centennial Olympic Park. With artifacts totaling more than $2 million, the facilitiy will include exhibits, treasure trunks and a recreated ship deck.
2012
One of the World's Most Accessible Airports Expands
The latest improvements to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport include a $5.4 billion development program which will expand, repair and upgrade designated areas within the airport's facilities. In April 2012, a new international terminal will be completed, allowing passengers to access the landside without having to use an automated people mover. It will include access to the roadway, a parking structure and a provision for the southern MARTA extension to the terminal. Concourse E is expanding with 900,000 new square feet, including international passenger ticketing facilities, 10 additional gates, two levels of curb-front parking and approximately 1,100 public parking spaces adjacent to the terminal.
Center for Puppetry Arts Plans Jim Henson Wing Expansion and New Exhibition
The Center for Puppetry Arts, the largest museum dedicated to puppetry in North America, is planning to open a Jim Henson wing as early as 2012, which will double the museum's current size and will allow for the museum to bring many of its 4,500 collectibles out of storage. This momentous gift of more than 500 puppets, props, scenic elements, posters, sketches, drawings, films and videos, will be housed in a newly planned Jim Henson Wing, to be included in the Center's new museum space.
2013
Center for Civil and Human Rights
The Center for Civil and Human rights will open adjacent to the World of Coca-Cola and Georgia Aquarium in 2013 and offer visitors insight into the contributions made by Atlantans and Georgians to the historic struggle for African-American freedom and equality. In addition, the Center will house the Morehouse College Martin Luther King Jr. Collection and feature interactive audio and video exhibits. The Center will also include a meeting and performance space for artistic and educational programming.
Atlanta to Have College Football Hall of Fame
The College Football Hall of Fame is relocating to a $90 million facility in Atlanta in 2013. The 85,000-square-foot space will give football fans a shrine for recognizing the game's top competitors. In addition to memorabilia and exhibits, the attraction will also feature a large outdoor screen for game viewing and bring some of the game's biggest names for annual induction ceremonies. The Black College Football Hall of Fame will also be established in Atlanta in 2012 and will honor the greatest football players and coaches at Historically Black Colleges and Universites.
National Health Museum Comes to Downtown
The National Health Museum will be located in downtown Atlanta near Centennial Olympic Park with an estimated 1.1 million to 1.4 million visitors annually. The museum will be a 21st century science-based attraction with the mission of inspiring Americans to live healthier lives through access to knowledge and themed exhibits focused on the life sciences. The physical museum will deliver health-related content and experiences to millions of visitors, inspire America's next generation of caregivers and life scientists and help the nation remain at the forefront of health discovery, technology, practice and care
2009
Completions
Atlanta Botanical Gardens Green Expansion
Atlanta Botanical Garden opened a new LEED certified visitor center and parking facility in spring 2009. This completed Phase 1 of the two-part green expansion. The addition includes a new pedestrian path that connects pedestrians from Piedmont Avenue to the Visitors Center and directly to Piedmont Park.
Jimmy Carter Presidential Library & Museum Gets a Facelift
The Jimmy Carter Presidential Library & Museum completed its largest renovation since its conception in 1986. The $10 million building project is a dramatic transformation of the 24,000-square-foot space facility. Except for the exisiting replica of the Oval Office, the museum has a brand-new look, including history-making scenes from around the world.
CONRAC and Shopping Center Constructed at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport
The new Consolidated Rental Agency Complex (CONRAC), a centralized area housing all the airport's rental car companies, was completed in December 2009. The automated people mover system now operates from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport to the new CONRAC facility, with an intermediate stop at the Georgia International Convention Center.
Hotels
W Hotels Opens Fourth Atlanta Location
The 237-room W Atlanta Downtown opened in January 2009, complete with a Bliss spa, 9,000 square feet of meeting space and event space and a helicopter pad. This addition gives Atlanta the most W hotels in any U.S. market other than New York.
Sky Bridge Connects Marriott Marquis and Hilton Atlanta
Atlanta Marriott Marquis and Hilton Atlanta constructed a pedestrian sky bridge linking the two hotels in March 2009. The 107' long, 8' wide bridge gives planners and attendees a seamless convention experience with a combined 279,-000 square feet of meeting space and 2,800 rooms.
Georgian Terrace Hotel Undergoes $11 Million-Plus Renovation
In May 2009, the Georgian Terrace Hotel underwent an $11 million renovation project to upgrade guestrooms and renovate public and social spaces. The area immediately north of the current lobby was converted into an entertaining space for social gatherings, wedding ceremonies and business meetings. The current restaurant and bar was transformed into Livingston, a fine dining restaurant.
Luxurious St. Regis Opens in Buckhead
An ultra-luxurious 26-story hotel, the St. Regis, opened in April 2009 with 150 rooms at Peachtree and West Paces Ferry roads in Buckhead. The St. Regis offers top-drawer services and amenities and includes a 9,200-square-foot ballroom.
Palomar Hotel Debuts in Midtown
A $100 million investment funded the 304-room hotel and 38 residences of Palomar Hotel, which opened in April 2009. This pet-friendly Midtown property is part of Kimpton Hotels & Resorts and includes an onsite fitness center and 10,000 square feet of meeting space.
Former Granada Suites Hotel Reinvented as The Artmore Hotel
After a multi-million dollar renovation, the Granada Suites Hotel re-opened in May 2009 as The Artmore Hotel. Located in the heart of Atlanta's Cultural Arts District, the re-design held true to the historic architecture of the 1924, Spanish Mediterranean-inspired building.
Sheraton Atlanta Spends $20 Million on Capital Improvements
The Sheraton Atlanta spent $20 million on a capital improvement and enhancement program encompassing all facets of the 760 guest room and conference center hotel. All renovations were completed in November 2009.
Hilton Atlanta Completes $55 Million Renovation
The Hilton Atlanta completed a major renovation in November 2009. The transformation included all 1,242 guestrooms and suites, as well as the lobby and atrium areas, 119,000 square feet of meeting space, food and beverage outlets and fitness facilities. In addition, a new sky bridge was created that connects the Hilton Atlanta with the neighboring Marriott Marquis hotel so that meeting attendees can easily access the facilities at both downtown Atlanta hotels.
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