Truist’s installation of brightly lit signage atop Atlanta’s second-tallest building has hit a roadblock.

The financial institution had recently begun the process of erecting tall, glowing branding atop all four sides of the former SunTrust Plaza building, a 60-story downtown landmark designed and developed by John Portman, as Urbanize Atlanta reported Friday.    

But now, the City of Atlanta’s Office of Buildings has ordered the plaza’s marquee tenant to halt.  

The city department issued a “stop work” order and a notice calling for “corrective action” on Monday, after an anonymous complaint had led staffers to inspect the crown of the 303 Peachtree Street tower, according to the AJC.

Truist was in the process of installing its name in brilliant lettering about 12 and ½ feet high—with 22-foot monograms above that, at the building’s apex—that would peer down on the Connector and across intown neighborhoods. Exactly what those plans may have violated, and when the work could resume, isn’t clear.

A rendering illustrating how the Truist name and a taller monogram would look atop the former SunTrust Plaza. Truist Financial Corporation; via Atlanta Office of Buildings

Truist spokesperson Mike McCoy wrote in an email this morning, “There is a 'stop work' order, and we are continuing to work with the city on the matter. I don’t have anything else to offer on it.”

City officials have yet to respond to inquiries, but we’ll update this story with any additional information that comes.  

As with the renaming of the Braves’ SunTrust Park, Truist’s downtown signage is part of a broader effort to purge the SunTrust and BB&T brands, following the merger of those banks that formed Truist in 2019.

Interior, façade, and street-level signage is also being changed at the former SunTrust Plaza.

Truist’s plans came to light last week when an Urbanize reader wrote a letter explaining his concerns that a trend of installing corporate branding atop some of Atlanta’s most iconic skyscrapers is cluttering the city’s skies. (Read the letter and see additional signage imagery here.)

Truist reps countered that the signage would be symbolic of a brighter future for the company and city.

• Recent downtown news, discussion (Urbanize Atlanta)