Bank of America Plaza, which has stood as Atlanta’s tallest building for more than 30 years, is set for one of the largest hospitality overhauls in its history as ownership continues to angle it as a top-flight workplace destination.  

CP Group, a commercial real estate and management firm with a massive Atlanta portfolio, revealed today plans for $15-million upgrades that will inject their trophy asset in the city, Bank of America Plaza, with a new restaurant, café and market, and tenant social space in the sky. 

CP Group has tapped national firm Episcope Hospitality to oversee changes at the 55-story landmark tower in Midtown. Episcope counts concepts in Boston, Las Vegas, and Chicago and is known for its revitalization work at The Penn District in New York City, where Episcope operates multiple food-and-beverage concepts today.

Episcope will operate three new concepts at Bank of America Plaza totaling about 18,000 square feet, marking the company’s entry into the Atlanta market. Apart from the planned 37th-floor tenant lounge, each of the concepts is being designed to serve the surrounding Midtown community, in addition to building tenants and office visitors, according to CP Group. 

Construction on the upgrades began in June.  

Design plans for the Bank of America Plaza tenant lounge. Courtesy of CP Group

Plans also call for Episcope to take over operations of the building’s upscale lobby barista café, Spire Espresso + Spirits. CP Group officials say the partnership caps the second phase of improvements at the property totaling $70 million.

“We’ve invested heavily in transforming the building,” said CP Group founding partner Chris Eachus in an announcement, “and bringing on a hospitality partner like Episcope allows us to build on that momentum with experiences that benefit both tenants and the broader community.”

The first concept planned to open, the 37th-floor club exclusively for tenants, is expected to debut by the end of this year, with an emphasis on Atlanta skyline views. It’ll feature an Episcope food-and-beverage program and spaces designed for working, dining, and celebrating special events.

Meanwhile, replacing the building’s former food hall is a modern restaurant and bar concept called “West Wing.” It's set to feature multiple lounges and dining areas, with designs “inspired by the world's finest hotel lobbies,” per CP Group. 

Designs in store for the West Wing restaurant bar. Courtesy of CP Group

West Wing plans call for “warm wood finishes, custom furnishings, and layered lighting,” plus a “large-format viewing screen [that] will allow the building to host watch parties, cultural programming, and community events,” per CP Group. Courtesy of CP Group

Next to the restaurant, plans call for a gourmet market and café that will be open to both tenants and visitors throughout the workday. Expect grab-and-go meals prepared by chefs, specialty coffee, artisanal pastries, made-to-order sandwiches and salads, and other offerings, per officials. 

Both West Wing and the market are scheduled to open at the building in early 2027. 

Throughout Bank of America Plaza, Episcope will also offer “room service” with in-suite catering and delivery options as part of its hospitality program. 

Today, Episcope operates three dining concepts at The Penn District in New York: an all-day coffee shop and market with two locations; a full-service restaurant and bar; and a tenant-only rooftop bar.

“Atlanta is a city we’ve had our eye on for years,” said Episcope founder David Morton in the announcement, “and we’re thrilled to make Bank of America Plaza our first home in the market.” 

Plans for the West Wing restaurant gallery by night. Courtesy of CP Group

The project team for Bank of America Plaza updates also includes architecture firms ASD/SKY and Kuo Diedrich Chi, along with Leapley Construction. 

Boca Raton, Fla.-based CP Group owns more than 8 million square feet of commercial real estate around Atlanta, including Piedmont Center in Buckhead, where significant renovations are in the pipeline, and The CTR (formerly CNN Center) downtown, where planned additions include a whimsical “social destination” called The Looking Glass

Since acquiring Bank of America Plaza in 2022, CP Group’s more than $70 million in capital improvements have included 100,000 square feet of spec suites, a redesigned lobby and arrival area, the lobby café and bar, and other changes. 

Amenities elsewhere in the building include a 17,000-square-foot fitness center, a salon, an onsite bank branch, and a renovated 10,000-square-foot conference center, per the owners. 

In the gallery above, find more visuals for the upcoming, revised Bank of America Plaza spaces. 

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