Atlanta, Georgia
Client: SSOE
Size: 40,000 square feet
Status: Completed 2020
Collaborators: SSOE
Transforming underutilized Midtown plaza into a destination public space.
HGOR led the landscape architecture design for 675 West Peachtree, reimagining a 40,000-square-foot plaza at the base of a legacy Midtown tower into a vibrant, multi-functional urban destination. Originally defined by harsh hardscape and limited usability, the space remained underutilized for more than three decades. The redesign transforms the plaza into a transit-oriented environment that supports retail, dining, events, and everyday workplace activity, creating a new value proposition for both the public realm and the 1.4 million-square-foot office complex it serves.
Reclaiming a Lost Urban Space
For over 35 years, the plaza functioned more as an architectural forecourt than a usable public space. HGOR’s design shifts the site from static and uninviting to active and purpose-driven by introducing program, flexibility, and a clear identity that encourages daily use and sustained engagement. One of the project’s most significant moves was elevating the entire plaza to align with the building entry while spanning an active transit line below. This intervention maximizes usable space, improves sightlines, and reduces noise from the street.
Creating Comfort Within Density
To counterbalance the surrounding urban intensity, the design introduces shade and greenery through groves of trees and a 37-foot signature trellis. An 8,000-square-foot biophilic seating panel provides areas for rest and social interaction, creating a more comfortable and engaging environment within a high-traffic corridor.
Reclaiming a Lost Urban Space
For over 35 years, the plaza functioned more as an architectural forecourt than a usable public space. HGOR’s design shifts the site from static and uninviting to active and purpose-driven by introducing program, flexibility, and a clear identity that encourages daily use and sustained engagement. One of the project’s most significant moves was elevating the entire plaza to align with the building entry while spanning an active transit line below. This intervention maximizes usable space, improves sightlines, and reduces noise from the street.
Creating Comfort Within Density
To counterbalance the surrounding urban intensity, the design introduces shade and greenery through groves of trees and a 37-foot signature trellis. An 8,000-square-foot biophilic seating panel provides areas for rest and social interaction, creating a more comfortable and engaging environment within a high-traffic corridor.
Designed for Activation and Revenue
The plaza is designed to support a wide range of uses, from daily dining and informal gathering to large-scale, revenue-generating events. The integration of plaza-level retail, dining patios, and flexible open space creates a dynamic environment that supports both tenants and the broader Midtown community.
Catalyzing Midtown’s Evolution
Since its completion in 2020, the revitalized plaza has played a key role in transforming West Peachtree Street into a more active and connected urban corridor. By turning an underperforming space into a destination, the project has expanded the impact of the site, supporting economic activity, enhancing workplace experience, and contributing to Midtown Atlanta’s continued growth.
