Atalanta, GA – WRS, Inc. revealed new renderings of its four-block downtown redevelopment, specifically, the area located at the southwest corner of Central and Alabama known as Kenny’s Alley/Underground Atlanta mall. Featuring more than 150,000sf of retail, office, and communal areas, construction on Block 3 began in January, four months ahead of schedule, and will be complete in 12 to 14 months.John Clifford, co-founding partner of S9 Architecture, stated, “Underground Atlanta is the historic location of the city’s founding. At S9 Architecture, we are excited to be a part of its transformation into a vibrant, mixed-use neighborhood in the increasingly dynamic downtown area. Our design emphasizes the intangible yet important qualities of how people perceive and use space, and we hope this holistic approach will make the new Underground Atlanta project a memorable experience for residents and visitors alike.”
Changes include: The removal of the former underground Atlanta food court along Central Avenue; opening up of the “Exchange” building; replacement of all retail windows; repair of the Block Candy Co. building; removal of 1980s “mall” touches; repair and repaint of all façades and reworking of interior access.
—
Details of changes:
- The removal of the former Underground Atlanta food court along Central Avenue. This will open up the alley level to the street as shown in the above rendering.
- Opening up of the “Exchange” building to Upper Alabama to provide more of an open-air connected corridor between Kenny’s Alley and Upper Alabama.
- Replacement of all retail windows with modern/industrial office storefronts that will be customized based on tenant size.
- Repair of the c. 1882 Block Candy Co. building at 86 Pryor, and replacement of its 1980s storm windows with historically accurate and energy-efficient ones.
- Removal of 1980s “mall” touches like escalators and miscellaneous metal screening.
- Repair and repaint of all façades, with addition(s) of street art and murals throughout.
- Reworking of interior access so that it functions more like an office/workshop space rather than a circuitous mall.
“It is important for us to modernize this footprint while restoring and keeping as much of the charm as we can of this iconic area,” explained Scott Smith, CEO of WRS, Inc. “We are investing a great deal in the structural safety of Block 3 while upgrading systems, including all new mechanical, electrical, and plumbing systems. We are working to bring everything to current code, including new windows, lighting, and new water quality measures for future tenants and patrons.”
