A 55-story Midtown Atlanta landmark has undergone a remarkable transformation with a stunning renovation of its 20,000-square-foot lobby. The redesign blends art-deco revival with contemporary design, highlighted by custom-engineered wall claddings that elevate the entire space. The black, textured powder-coated panels create a striking contrast with the golden arches, producing an inviting, luxurious atmosphere.
The new lobby entrance features modern, minimalist designs, with colossal powder-coated wall claddings marking the transition from the urban bustle outside to a serene, expansive interior. The interior walls, finished in a black velvet-like powder coating, brighten the lobby, creating a sharp aesthetic that complements the sleek, gallery-like environment.
To achieve the seamless, sophisticated effect, the architect worked closely with the manufacturer to create a custom wall-cladding layout that blended into the building's existing design. Through design assist services, the manufactured helped develop the panel layouts in CAD during the pre-construction phase. Once the project was awarded the manufacturer developed detailed submittal drawings and iterated multiple rounds of custom color matched to finalize the design and finishes.
The panels were fabricated from 0.090” thick aluminum and comprised both perforated panels for acoustics and non-perforated panels. This variation allowed for a dynamic visual impact, with the wall’s contrasting panels showcasing the revived golden glow of the building’s original art-deco arches.
Though the wall panels appear monolithic, each was uniquely designed, requiring custom shapes, sizes, and finishes. Approximately 70% of the project consisted of panels that needed to be uniquely crafted. All panels were finished with a textured powder coating, creating a visually cohesive, luxurious effect. To ensure flawless execution, detailed mock-ups were created to perfect the manufactured prototypes and assemblies, with a focus on the texture and black finish components. This stage was critical to prevent even the smallest surface blemishes, as well as to guarantee that the panels would not experience deflection during installation.
The installation team faced unique challenges, particularly when handling large panels that could easily sustain surface blemishes. Given the busy Midtown location, special attention was given to how the panels were transported to the job site, with custom-designed crates ensuring safe delivery. Coordinating the timing of the product’s arrival with the busy downtown traffic required exceptional planning and execution. Despite these challenges, the lobby remained open throughout the renovation, with the project being completed in phases to minimize disruption.
The installation contractor was particularly impressed with the smooth execution of the project, with both the manufacturer and architect praising the final results. The transformed lobby now serves as a sleek, gallery-like environment, worthy of its CoStar Impact Award. With its meticulous attention to detail, exceptional craftsmanship, and seamless integration of custom design elements, the renovation of the lobby stands as a prime example of architectural excellence. The design successfully combines clean lines with dramatic contrasts, turning the space into an architectural masterpiece. The space’s stunning transformation also positions it as a contender for the 2025 CISCA Construction Excellence Award.