Atlanta’s Centennial Olympic Park renovation, expansion gets underway

Work on the long-planned renovation and expansion of Centennial Olympic Park began last week with the demolition of the old Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce building.

Crews made quick work of the three-story building, which had stood on the western side of the park along Marietta Street and actually predated the greenspace by nearly a decade.

The work marks the first tangible progress on a project that’s supposed to add nearly three acres of beautified breathing room to the 21-year-old park.

Plans, released earlier this year, include new sidewalks, an expanded amphitheater, new entrances to the park, and sculptures paying homage to the Olympics.

Grid View

• A rendering of the updated amphitheater. DTJDesign via GWCCA
• The new events building. DTJDesign via GWCCA
• The pedestrianized Andrew Young International Boulevard. DTJDesign via GWCCA
• The view once the Atlanta Chamber building is torn down. DTJDesign via GWCCA
• DTJDesign via ABC
• DTJDesign via ABC
• DTJDesign via ABC
• DTJDesign via ABC
• DTJDesign via ABC
• DTJDesign via ABC
• DTJDesign via ABC
• DTJDesign via ABC
• DTJDesign via ABC
• DTJDesign via ABC
• DTJDesign via ABC
• DTJDesign via ABC
• DTJDesign via ABC
• DTJDesign via ABC
• DTJDesign via ABC
• DTJDesign via ABC
• DTJDesign via ABC

Additionally, a new events facility will replace the third-story deck that once hosted events on top of the Chamber building.

It’ll take nearly 18 months for work to be completed, which creates a pinch at a location that’s become more popular for huge events (and Atlanta’s growing tourist hordes) in recent years.

During that time, many of the park’s signature features—from the Olympic Rings fountain to the playgrounds—will be closed to visitors as they undergo work, according to the AJC.

The active construction also means the park will not host many events over the next year and 1/2, save for ones that were booked well in advance.

Work is expected to be completed by the end of 2018.

Grid View

• The Omni Hotel, seen across from where the Chamber once stood. Michael Kahn, Curbed Atlanta
• Michael Kahn, Curbed Atlanta
• Michael Kahn, Curbed Atlanta
• A few columns are all that remain of the building. Michael Kahn, Curbed Atlanta
• The park expansion will open up directly across the street from the College Football Hall of Fame. Michael Kahn, Curbed Atlanta
• Michael Kahn, Curbed Atlanta
• Michael Kahn, Curbed Atlanta

• Work updating Centennial Olympic may crimp some fun at park [AJC]
• Centennial Olympic Park renderings shed light on renovation, expansion [Curbed Atlanta]