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Photos, renderings, video: Colony Square construction kicks off with a (tiny) ‘bang,’ glitter cannons

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A wee wrecking ball and robotic concrete jack tore into part of the Midtown property, slated to fall for new offices and retail.

By Michael Kahn
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A crane with a concrete ball hits a glass window on the second floor.
Confetti explodes as the wrecking ball makes its initial impact with the building.
Michael Kahn, Curbed Atlanta

The crash of a small concrete wrecking ball against glass, and the explosion of compressed air cannons releasing a stream of glittered confetti, signaled the start Tuesday of a long-anticipated transformation in Midtown.

While the Colony Square “demolition” itself was limited to a few broken panes and chewed-up facade panels, hundreds of guests celebrated the launch of construction with cocktails and food from vendors slated to be part of the new Main & Main food hall on the site.

Leaders from developer North American Properties were on hand to address the crowd, with NAP’s Mark Toro saying the project would “turn Colony Square inside-out,” bringing the formerly insular development out toward Peachtree Street.

Colony Square—a fixture at the corner of Peachtree and 14th street for nearly 50 years—is officially being renovated to modernize and expand the mixed-use complex, defined by two concrete office towers.

When complete, the complex will include a new six-story building facing the corner of Peachtree and 15th streets, where demolition work has now begun. The new building will house retail and restaurants on the ground floor, as well as a FitLab Fitness Club and offices above. It won’t be ready until November 2019.

In the meantime, expect to see new retail spaces along Peachtree Street open on July 4 of next year—the 50th anniversary of the complex’s original unveiling.

The second phase, slated for delivery in March 2019, will bring new retail to the base of Building 400, located toward 15th Street.

Ultimately, the reimagined complex will boast nearly 1 million square feet of space, including a Food Hall and a movie theater.

For a thorough glimpse at the future, check out the video fly-through, after the photos.

The ill-fated building before the first blow of the wrecking ball.
Michael Kahn, Curbed Atlanta
The wrecking ball, waiting to do its worst.
Michael Kahn, Curbed Atlanta
A second window shatters.
Michael Kahn, Curbed Atlanta
A pneumatic jack tearing into concrete panels.
Michael Kahn, Curbed Atlanta
A window frame flies from the second floor.
Michael Kahn, Curbed Atlanta
The new office and retail building to be built along 15th Street.
North American Properties
The updated plaza.
North American Properties
A rendering shows the vision for the ground floor at part of Colony Square.
A view of “The Grove” along 14th Street.
North American Properties
The plaza between the two office towers, fronting Peachtree Street.
North American Properties

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