Georgia Pacific Proposes Massive Office-to-Mixed Use Conversion in Downtown Atlanta

U.S. manufacturing company Georgia-Pacific recently unveiled plans for the redevelopment of its downtown Atlanta headquarters building. The iconic, 51-story Georgia-Pacific Center — as well as the surrounding city block — is set to be transformed into a vibrant hub of innovation and community through one of the country’s largest mixed-use redevelopments.

Located on Peachtree Street in the central business district, the property was originally completed in 1982 and incorporates more than 1 million rentable square feet of central Atlanta commercial real estate, including office and retail. According to the Yardi Research Data conversion feasibility index, this LEED Gold-certified, commercial high-rise is a quality candidate for conversion to residential — an ambitious change that Georgia-Pacific plans to complete by the end of 2027.

The Georgia-Pacific Center incorporates more than 1 million square feet of downtown Atlanta commercial space.

The project plans that were recently unveiled call for:

• Roughly 600,000 square feet of class A office space
• About 125,000 square feet of retail, restaurant, and entertainment space
• More than 400 apartments on the building’s top floors
• A large central plaza spanning about 35,000 square feet
• Access to adjacent MARTA and Atlanta Streetcar transportation
• More than 2,100 parking spaces

Plans for future phases of development also include the possibility of adding a hotel, as well as additional residences and retail.

“Georgia-Pacific’s initial plans for a transformative redevelopment of this scale in the heart of Atlanta align perfectly with our vision to reimagine downtown,” said Katie Kirkpatrick, president and CEO of the Metro Atlanta Chamber. “A catalyst for economic growth, this project will add momentum to others already underway and contribute to a world-class experience and vibrant neighborhood for years to come.”

The mixed-use redevelopment of this historic staple of the Atlanta skyline is expected to contribute to the creation of a welcoming neighborhood with easy access to amenities and entertainment and revitalize what is considered to be the city’s most important main street business district.

The first phase of the downtown Atlanta commercial real estate property’s conversion from office to mixed-use is scheduled for completion by the end of 2027.

“If realized, this will be more than just a redevelopment,” said Christian Fischer, president and CEO of Georgia-Pacific. “It has the potential to generate economic growth and create mutual benefit for the city, local businesses, their employees, Georgia-Pacific employees, and our vibrant community.

“The office landscape has changed, and we recognize that the adaptive reuse of our site and office tower can create greater long-term value. We are also acutely aware of the need for more residential, shopping, dining, and entertainment options in our downtown neighborhood, which is why Georgia-Pacific is excited to provide a space that will offer unmatched opportunity in downtown Atlanta.”