Renderings are but a tease, a glimpse of what could be. Often, projects change substantially or never come to fruition and we're left with nothing more than a few pretty images and lots of resentment toward those temptress developers. This year brought a lot of major project announcements — and a lot of righteous renderings — from Gwinnett County to Sandy Springs and all over the city of Atlanta. These 10 tricked-out renderings from 2014 gave us a thrilling glimpse of what is (maybe) to come in Atlanta.
6th and Peachtree
In February, the Atlanta Business Chronicle reported that the Integral group was planning a 35-story apartment tower in the heart of Midtown. Rather than the banal glass and concrete boxes that have come to characterize much of the city's explosive growth, this rendering showed potential for a profound architectural statement. And aerial gardens. On a site at 6th and Peachtree streets that's currently a parking lot, the $70 million development would offer 25,000 square feet of retail and roughly 400 apartments just south of the Viewpoint condominiums. It got voted most appealing design in a Curbed Atlanta poll earlier this year, and tipsters have been eagle-eyed about finding signs of progress on the 811 Peachtree site. The Midtown Alliance still lists the project as "projected" with a yet to be determined start date.
Three Alliance Center
Also announced in February by local architects Mack Scogin and Merrill Elam was the final tower for Tishman Speyer's Alliance Center office park in Buckhead. With a striking faceted glass facade, the building, which is expected to be completed by September 2016, will be a welcome addition to Buckhead's skyline.
Atlanta Media Campus and Studios
Atlanta's mildly horrific Y'allywood moniker is growing ever more applicable as TV and film studios pop up across the metro. This 160-acre production studio proposal in Gwinnett County, announced in June, came complete with glitzy renderings of a film school, hotel, housing and office space just off Interstate 85 at Jimmy Carter Boulevard. If it becomes reality, it'll be the largest movie complex outside of California.
Atlanta Falcons Stadium
To help with their new stadium's ballooning costs, the Falcons released fancy new renderings in June in an attempt to secure naming rights that would get them $20 million closer to paying for the $1.4 billion construction costs. Seven months later, there's still no word on a name.
Deuce (222 Piedmont)
Renderings of local firm Plexus R&D's proposal to transform the dated, 1970s office space at 222 Piedmont into a trendy boutique hotel came out in July. The fact that it has shrubs cut into the word "Deuce" was enough to earn it a place on the list.
5th and Piedmont
Smith Dalia's plans to create a community using four new townhomes alongside a Midtown home dating from the 1890s epitomizes old-meets-new charm and the renderings are as intriguing as would be expected. Restoring the exterior and updating the interior of the historic home at 5th Street and Piedmont Avenue will preserve the heritage of the neighborhood, while the sleek new addition will add a touch of modernity. The units will start at $790,000.
Northpark 100
In October, Northpark 100 renderings were revealed. The massive mixed-use development in Sandy Springs was billed to have the tallest suburban tower in the country at a staggering 50 stories. Alas, plans have already been scaled back due to neighborhood concerns.
Georgia Dome Hotel
When the new Falcons stadium opens in 2017, what will become of the old Georgia Dome site? Renderings released early this month indicate that it could become home to this glassy new hotel. The 2,000-room mega-hotel would be Atlanta's largest and could open in 2019.
SunTrust Park
The Braves continue to release snazzy renderings in the hopes of getting us all fired up about heading to Cobb to watch baseball and dabble in mixed-use shopping and dining. Will it work? Time will tell.
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