Conceptual design plans for the new Midtown Green on 14th Street were unveiled April 14 during the Midtown Alliance annual meeting.
Planned as an open, programmed public space, the project will include immersive art, a pavilion and outdoor performance venue, a restaurant and café, a community building with public restrooms, and a wide range of flexible gathering spaces.
The project name “Midtown Green” is a working title and is subject to change, according to officials. Midtown Alliance will advance final design, engineering, and cost planning while preparing to launch a capital campaign to build out the property, which was formerly planned as the site of a condo tower.
“This is a chance to create one of Atlanta’s next great civic landmarks … a place people don’t just pass through, but go out of their way to experience,” Kevin Green, Midtown Alliance President and CEO, said. “We’re looking to create a cultural destination without walls. Open, accessible, and always evolving.”
To date, more than 6,000 Atlantans have contributed input through community engagement efforts that helped shape the design.
Midtown Alliance officials said the space is designed to support a full day of activity — morning yoga on the lawn, lunch at the café while children play nearby, and evening performances under the stars.
At the center of the property will be a pavilion inspired by the form of a magnolia blossom, with soaring arches and curves influenced by the sculptural work of Alexander Calder. The pavilion is flanked by a flexible amphitheater with terraced seating that can accommodate casual use or events with up to 800 attendees.
The concept was designed by Field Operations, the firm that has created signature outdoor projects around the world, including the High Line in New York City, Taopu Central Park in Shanghai, and Tongva Park in Santa Monica, among others.
A deep bench of experts, including architect Tom Phifer, art and cultural strategist David Van Der Leer, programming and revenue consultants HR&A, acoustics research company Threshold, cost estimating by Dharam, and others also informed specific design amenities.
“Cities compete on experience now, and opportunities like this are very rare. As we see it, the biggest risk is not being bold enough,” Green said.
For more information on the project, including the results of community engagement efforts and the strategic vision for the site, visit MidtownATL.com/MidtownGreen.
RELATED STORY: Midtown Alliance begins work on new 14th Street public space
