Fresh renderings for downtown Atlanta’s Centennial Olympic Park show striking transformation

Early phases are wrapping up, while new events facility, plaza, and amphitheater will start construction next year

By Michael Kahn Oct 16, 2017, 10:04am EDT

A glassy modern events facility across a grassy field. — A new events facility at the northwestern edge of the park is just part of the expansion.

The expansion and renovation of Centennial Olympic Park in downtown has been going on since early this year, and the first projects are making a mad dash toward the finish line.

According to the Georgia World Congress Center Authority, which oversees the park, two of six large projects in the central downtown greenspace’s upgrade will be complete by the end of 2017.

A new promenade, connecting the College Football Hall of Fame with the Olympic Ring Fountains, along with plazas at either end, will be complete by December.

A brick walkway will replace Andrew Young International Boulevard, which formerly cut through the park, as well as the old Atlanta Chamber building. The plazas will feature a large Olympic Torch sculpture and Olympic Rings, with various Olympic sports highlighted on the promenade between.

The view down the new promenade, with the Olympic Ring sculpture at the eastern end, near the hotel district.

An aerial view of the promenade, leading from the Rings fountain toward Marietta Street.

Once work is done on the plazas and promenade, larger construction projects will get underway in the new year, officials say.

Construction is anticipated to begin in January on a new Special Event Center at the northwestern corner of the park—across the street from the Georgia Aquarium. The glassy pavilion will provide indoor and outdoor gathering spaces when work wraps in January 2019, according to GWCCA timelines.

In March, work is scheduled to begin on a revamp of the Southern Company Amphitheater with new shade structures, seating, and performance pavilion.

At the same time, a new Baker Street entrance, at Centennial Olympic Park Drive, and a plaza honoring the Paralympic legacy, will begin construction.

Work is expected to wrap up on all three projects by late summer of next year.