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Downtown Atlanta office eyesore becoming high school

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Work forges ahead on the conversion of the Oxford building into Cristo Rey High School

The Oxford Industries building in downtown, vacant since the company decamped to Midtown in 2012, is getting a new lease on life.

Located just south of The Office apartments, the building is being repurposed — not unlike its neighbor — for a new use. Cristo Rey High School, which currently operates from a converted three-story office building in Midtown, will find a permanent home downtown.

A year ago, developer Jim Cumming donated the $4.5-million building to the school, according to the Saporta Report. Since then, work has been underway to convert the dated office building into a state-of-the-art school in time for classes next year.

With 70,000 square feet spread across seven stories, the building is a major upgrade from the current school on West Peachtree Street. According to the school, the additional square footage will allow for specially equipped science labs, the expansions of after-school programs, and a new gymnasium building above a new concrete parking structure.

The school, which boasts an impressive graduation rate of 99 percent and a college acceptance rate of 100 percent, anticipates being able to serve more students once the building is completed.

A video released by the school shows work on the inside charging ahead. Meanwhile, construction has moved outside too, with the first two floors receiving a fresh facade treatment to spruce up the street appearance. The conversion is designed by Robertson Loia Roof.