This multi-use development was designed to expand Georgia Tech to the other side of Interstate 75/85 along 5th Street, between Interstate 75/85 and West Peachtree Street in Atlanta’s Midtown district. The two-block development consists of five buildings totaling approximately 1.2 million square feet. The 252-room hotel boasts amenities including 21,000 square feet of meeting space, an outdoor courtyard, an all all-day dining room, club lounge, indoor pool, and health club.
The entire Technology Square development includes the 250,000 square-foot hotel, the Georgia Tech College of Management, and the 120,000 square-foot Global Learning Center provides an international learning environment with multiple auditoriums and classroom facilities. Other components include a 50,000 square-foot Barnes & Noble Bookstore, a 65,000 square-foot Economic Development Institute, additional retail space, a 1473 car parking deck, major sewer relocation, a 4-story office building, and a central energy plant.
Holder partnered with Hardin Construction under a joint venture agreement to complete the project. After a two-year preconstruction effort, the project broke ground in November of 2001. The extensive value analysis was performed during preconstruction to review seismic code requirements with waterproofing and expansion joints for the multiple buildings in the program. The process resulted in significant savings for the project which helped provide the funds to add grills to the parking deck exterior openings later in the project.
The major challenge of this project was the size and complexity. The project required that five buildings with entirely different programs were built at the same time. A Joint Venture contract structure, Contractor-Controlled Insurance Program, and Subguard program each presented their own unique challenges. Coordination required critical design information with necessary details for all buildings in a limited time frame. The tight site constraints and urban setting in busy Midtown Atlanta required careful planning and a high level of attention to safety. Among many scope-related challenges were substantial audio/visual and telephone/data requirements.
Technology Square was declared one of 19 finalists for an Award of Excellence by the Urban Land Institute Awards jury.