CODA hits rock bottom in Midtown as excavation wraps up

Midtown construction has hit a new low, as excavation for Georgia Tech's new high-powered computing center, CODA, is bottoming out.

An official celebration is planned today to mark the completion of downward work and the beginning of vertical construction on the site.

Site prep started late last year with the demolition of an old bank building and low-rise office on the site. Since then, more than 20,000 dump-truck loads of dirt have been removed from the block bounded by Spring Street, West Peachtree Street, Fourth Street, and Armstead Place.

The relatively rare construction tactic—at least for Atlanta—has left a massive hole to allow for an underground parking deck and service area.

Work will now commence on the construction of those underground levels, which are projected to hit street level again before the new year.

From there, CODA will rise 21 stories, supplying more than 600,000 square feet of office space, a high-powered computing center, retail and restaurant space, and a public arcade linking West Peachtree and Spring streets.

The John Portman and Associates-designed building is expected to take 18 more months to construct, with an opening scheduled for Jan. 1, 2019.

Meanwhile, just next door, plans are coming together for another Portman development, with an office tower and residences.

Pierluca Maffey, John Portman & Associates

• In Midtown Atlanta, Georgia Tech digs deep for CODA [Curbed Atlanta]
• John Portman & Associates principal dissects CODA, new airport hotel, and three ATL places he’d like to reshape [Curbed Atlanta]