Midtown’s No2 Opus Place hosts unnecessarily absurd ‘groundbreaking’ ceremony

If you heard dynamite blasts in Midtown last week, it wasn’t the second attempt at imploding the Georgia Dome (that’s scheduled for Wednesday at 1 a.m.)—rather, it was the “groundbreaking” of No2 Opus Place.

A video posted by the development team shows dynamite blasts kicking up dirt in the pit along 14th Street where the 53-story residential tower will begin rising next year.

Originally planned as Atlanta’s second tallest building, the project received a trim off the top when it became exclusively residential. Initially, a hotel had also been planned in the tower.

Once complete, the building will be among the poshest residential offerings in the city. One-bedroom units start at $750,000, and a 5,000-square-foot penthouse is asking $12 million.

The exorbitant price tag will land future residents in the lap of luxury, with private lounges, a resident bar, a 23-seat IMAX theater, and premium finishes in every unit. On the ground level, No2 Opus Place will offer a restaurant, retail, direct access through the site to Arts Center and the MARTA station, and a massive new art gallery designed by Richard Meier, who designed the High Museum.

When it comes to gratuitous development hoopla, the theatrical groundbreaking ceremony was topped only by October’s over-hyped demolition kick-off at Colony Square.

With work beginning on No2 Opus Place according to a revised schedule announced in October, it seems that things are on track to have the building open in early 2020. Of course, time will tell if the schedule is maintained.

• No2 Opus Place Groundbreaking | Atlanta, GA [No2 Opus Place]
• Midtown’s No2 Opus Place construction start pushed until December, or later [Curbed Atlanta]