Project Use Type: Mixed-Use Urban Redevelopment
Client: Hines (Retail Core Management)
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Property Size: 138 Acres
Building Square Footage: 12.5 Million SF (Master Plan)
Services Provided:
– Environmental Geotechnical Coordination
– Regulatory Permit Management
– Sustainable Infrastructure Integration
Unique Solution:
Engineering a City on a Platform by burying a 7,000-space parking deck to prioritize pedestrian sovereignty and alleviate industrial fume ventilation needs.
Case Study: Elevating Urban Retail: The Atlantic Station Transformation
Context & Services
Atlantic Station represents a landmark redevelopment, transforming a historic industrial brownfield into a vibrant live-work-play destination. We bridged the gap between a complex urban vision and technical execution by providing Civil Construction Design, including comprehensive site, utility, and drainage plans.
Our team de-risked the project through Environmental & Geotechnical Coordination — meticulously managing asbestos, lead-based paint, and soil analysis to address the unique pressures of the site. To maintain a high “operational tempo,” we led Permit Management across LDP, DOT, and Watershed Management departments. We also integrated Sustainable Infrastructure, such as modified catch basins and separated sewer systems, to meet LEED neighborhood standards.
The Unique Solution
Guided by the Contineo Compass, we prioritized craftsmanship and value-focused design to engineer a “City on a Platform”. By situating the 7,000-space parking deck beneath the commercial district, we lifted the retail environment to street level to prioritize pedestrian sovereignty and wide, European-style sidewalks.
This vertical separation also served a vital technical purpose: By placing occupied levels multiple stories above the ground, we alleviated the need for active ventilation of former industrial fumes. This strategy significantly maximized net leasable square footage while ensuring the site remained safe and sustainable. Every utility sketch and ADA route was designed to prioritize predictability over complexity, ensuring a direct contribution to the asset’s long-term ROI.
Success & Impact
The result is a masterclass in New Urbanism delivered with total clarity and accountability. Today, the 17th Street Bridge serves as a symbolic gateway, stitching the Westside back into Midtown Atlanta via a thriving multimodal corridor. We proved that high-density, brownfield development can be both sustainable and highly profitable.
