Lofts at Centennial Yards South

The Lofts at Centennial Yards South entails the complete rehabilitation and adaptive reuse of the historic Southern Railway Freight Depot and Office Building.

Originally constructed in 1912 and expanded in 1928, the 274,000 sf complex is the largest remaining element of Atlanta’s storied railroad past. The project consists of two buildings (99 and 125 Ted Turner Drive) linked by a ‘Sky Bridge’. The existing buildings are being redeveloped as a dynamic multi-family mixed-use complex. Upper floors of the 125 Building (at the southern part of the site) provide 162 loft apartments including studio, one and two bedroom units with sizes that range from 400-1200 SF. The 99 Building shell has been restored, and the upper floors are being considered for a boutique hotel. The “Canyon” along Ted Turner Drive (FKA Spring Street) will offer 740 linear feet of continuous restaurants/bars and other commercial experiences with approximately 50,000 sf of leasable space on two levels.

As part of the rehabilitation work, all new windows, roofing, and MEP/FP systems were installed. The exterior shell rework included reopening of blocked up windows, masonry/concrete/stucco restorations, along with overall repair and stabilization of the concrete structure. The “Sky Bridge” was stripped of many layers of paint and the copper clad elements were exposed to restore the original appearance of this iconic element. Inside the building, the existing stairs and elevators were retained and upgraded to meet current codes. Outside the building, the existing ‘bridges’ between the street and the building have been repaired and now provide improved pedestrian access along the east side of the building. The existing entry canopies were retained, and the original lobby finishes in the 125 Building were restored.

The care & creativity poured into this project resulted in a combination of historical significance and new life for these important buildings.

Awards:
2023 AUDC, Adaptive Reuse Excellence Award, 2023 ULI Atlanta, Adaptive Reuse Excellence Award