Colony Square

Colony Square
Colony Square's concrete towers, designed in a New Formalist and Brutalist architectural style
General information
StatusCompleted
TypeMixed-use development and sub-district
Architectural style
New Formalist and Brutalist
LocationMidtown Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia
Coordinates33°47′14″N 84°22′59″W / 33.787148°N 84.383161°W / 33.787148; -84.383161
Completed
1975
Opening1969
OwnerJamestown
Design and construction
ArchitectHenri Jova of Jova/Daniels/Busby

Colony Square is a mixed-use development and sub-district in Midtown Atlanta, Georgia, located on Peachtree Street between 14th and 15th Streets. Built between 1969 and 1975, it is the oldest high-rise development in Midtown and the first mixed-use development in the Southeastern United States. Henri Jova of Jova/Daniels/Busby served as principal architect.

The complex was designed in a style blending New Formalism and Brutalism, apparent in its precast and reinforced concrete frames and board-form concrete surfaces. Colony Square comprises three skyscrapers: two containing offices (100 Colony Square and 400 Colony Square) and one housing a hotel, The Starling Atlanta Midtown, connected by an open-air public plaza. Also within the sub-district are three mid-rise condominium buildings: two comprising Colony House and a third, Hanover House. The complex underwent a major redevelopment completed in 2021, adding new office towers and the Politan Row food hall. In August 2024, real estate firm Jamestown acquired Colony Square from North American Properties.

History

Original development (1969–1975)

Colony Square was conceived by developer Jim Cushman as an urban mixed-use "micropolis" — a self-sufficient colony intended for professionals to live and work in a shared environment. Construction began in 1969, with the project completed in 1975 under the design of Henri Jova of the Atlanta firm Jova/Daniels/Busby. The complex originally included an enclosed mall, two office towers, a hotel, and condominium buildings.

Redevelopment (2015–2021)

In late 2015, North American Properties agreed to purchase Colony Square from Tishman Speyer for $164.5 million; the deal covered the retail and office components but excluded the condominiums and hotel. North American Properties subsequently demolished the former enclosed mall to create an open-air public plaza with a stage, and constructed two new office buildings: 300 Colony Square, anchored by the Whole Foods Market South regional office, and 500 Colony Square, anchored by Jones Day.

The $400 million redevelopment project was officially completed in July 2021, with Colony Square featuring 912,000 square feet of office space and 160,000 square feet of retail and entertainment space, including the Politan Row food hall and an iPic movie theater. The iPic theater closed in April 2026 after the parent company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.

In June 2022, the onsite hotel was renovated and rebranded as The Starling Atlanta Midtown, joining Hilton's Curio Collection. In August 2024, Jamestown acquired Colony Square as part of a larger portfolio purchase.

Component buildings

Tenants

Current

The Consulate-General of Canada is located in Suite 1700 of 100 Colony Square. The Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency occupies Suite 1206 of the same building. The broadcast studios of Audacy, Inc. (formerly Entercom) — including radio stations WVEE, WZGC, WAOK, and WSTR — are located in 400 Colony Square. WeWork operates a coworking location at 100 Colony Square.

Former

The Consulate-General of Japan in Atlanta was located in Colony Square until 2002, when it relocated to One Alliance Center. Because Trizec Properties owned both buildings at the time, the transition was facilitated without breaking the remaining lease.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Green, Josh (August 13, 2024). "Jamestown announces blockbuster buy of Colony Square, Avalon, more". Urbanize Atlanta. Retrieved June 22, 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 Saporta, Maria (January 27, 2014). "Atlanta architect, Midtown savior Henri Jova dies". Atlanta Business Chronicle. Retrieved March 28, 2017.
  3. ↑ "After 50 years, is Colony Square finally ready to grow up?". Atlanta. May 2018. Retrieved June 22, 2026.
  4. 1 2 "Colony Square". SAH Archipedia. Society of Architectural Historians. Retrieved June 22, 2026.
  5. 1 2 Capelouto, J.D. (July 14, 2021). "Atlanta's Colony Square finishes 4-year, $400M redevelopment effort". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved June 22, 2026.
  6. ↑ Pleven, Liam. "Cincinnati and Houston Developers Make Atlanta Mall Bet". The Wall Street Journal. ISSN 0099-9660. Retrieved December 7, 2015.
  7. ↑ Sams, Douglas (November 28, 2018). "Whole Foods relocating South regional office to Colony Square". Atlanta Business Chronicle. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  8. ↑ Wenk, Amy (June 14, 2019). "Jones Day picks Colony Square for its sleek new office". Atlanta Business Chronicle. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  9. ↑ McKibben, Beth (February 27, 2026). "Dine-in theater IPIC will close at Colony Square in Atlanta". Rough Draft Atlanta. Retrieved June 22, 2026.
  10. 1 2 Newmark, Avery (June 9, 2022). "Former W hotel in Midtown rebranded with new lobby bar". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved June 22, 2026.
  11. ↑ "1175 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta, GA 30361 – 100 Colony Square". LoopNet. Retrieved June 22, 2026.
  12. ↑ Sams, Douglas (November 28, 2018). "Whole Foods relocating South regional office to Colony Square". Atlanta Business Chronicle. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  13. ↑ "1175 Peachtree St NE, Atlanta, GA 30361 – Colony Square". LoopNet. Retrieved June 22, 2026.
  14. ↑ Wenk, Amy (June 14, 2019). "Jones Day picks Colony Square for its sleek new office". Atlanta Business Chronicle. Retrieved February 18, 2020.
  15. 1 2 "Colony Square | 1197 Peachtree St. NE :: Atlanta, GA". Archived from the original on October 29, 2011. Retrieved May 24, 2011.
  16. ↑ "Consulate General of Canada in Atlanta". Government of Canada. Retrieved June 22, 2026.
  17. ↑ "Contact North America". Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency. Archived from the original on June 1, 2015. Retrieved May 23, 2013.
  18. ↑ "Audacy – Colony Square Directory". colonysquare.com. Retrieved June 22, 2026.
  19. ↑ "WeWork – Colony Square Directory". colonysquare.com. Retrieved June 22, 2026.
  20. ↑ Gove, Matt (March 4, 2002). "Japanese Consulate says goodbye to Colony Square". American City Business Journals.
  21. ↑ Gove, Matt (March 4, 2002). "Japanese Consulate says goodbye to Colony Square". American City Business Journals.