PEACHTREE STREETSCAPES REDESIGN (1996 OLYMPICS)
LOCATION
Atlanta, GA
CLIENT
Nimrod Long & Associates
DESCRIPTION
This project Involved the retrofit of many street areas and the existing conditions below the street. The significance of this endeavor and the areas affected are detailed below:
This project linked Atlanta to Midtown over a 4.5 mile span and was most unique because of the hidden underground complexities involved in the redesign of the parks and sidewalks.
Woodruff Park was totally redesigned with the main structural / aesthetic feature being a huge free-standing water wall with associated pool area. This structure necessitated a large underground pump room and foundations. Extreme care had to be taken to detail the waterproofing and materials required. The water cascades over elevated granite steps at the base into the front pool area.
Carnegie Pavilion (http://www.atlantapublicart.com/carnegie-ed.php) was redesigned for the signature segmental block monument that was added. Consequently, this extremely heavy monument sits atop MARTA’s underground line. Our firm worked with MARTA to come up with a lightweight fill material (Elastizell) to replace existing soil atop the tunnel. The end result of adding the heavy monument atop lighter fill allowed the tunnel to continue to function without structural upgrades or altering of the park monument. Our firm worked with the artist determining how each piece could be placed and pinned to the adjacent segments to attain stability. Each piece of granite is unique and hand carved with similar connection requirements.
Hardy-Ivey Park was redesigned with new planters, benches, and sidewalks with minimal underground issues.
Streetscape sidewalks along Peachtree Street were challenging to coordinate due to basements of existing buildings along Peachtree Street being located under the sidewalks. The pavers and casting beds along with changing elevations created numerous conditions where the sidewalk work demolished the lid of the underground basement. Most notable in the redesign of these below sidewalk basement areas are the 1920 Macy’s Building, the 1940’s Candler Building, and the “Turn of the Century” Flatiron Building.
