A global design firm boasting a portfolio of notable projects from Brooklyn to Santa Monica and China will spearhead the creation of a landmark greenspace in the high-rise heart of Midtown, officials announced today. 

Following a three-month search that netted 49 design-team candidates (later whittled down to three finalists), the Midtown Improvement District and Midtown Alliance have picked Field Operations to lead park designs for a vacant, 4-acre site along 14th Street where lavish skyscraper No2 Opus Place never materialized. 

The Midtown Improvement District purchased the foreclosed acreage at 98 14th St. for $46 million earlier this year. 

Around the world, Field Operations has worked on notable greenspace and urban reclamation projects, including the High Line in Manhattan, The Underline in Miami, Domino Park in Brooklyn, Tongva Park in Santa Monica, Taopu Central Park in Shanghai, and South Park Plaza at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in London, among others. 

As a next step, Field Operations’ multi-disciplinary team will put together cost estimates, concept designs, and renderings, followed by final designs, according to Midtown Alliance. 

How the 4 acres in question are slotted among some of Atlanta's tallest, most recognizable buildings and cultural landmarks such as the High Museum. Courtesy of Midtown Alliance

Courtesy of Midtown Alliance

Preliminary ideas for the park—informed by 2025 Midtown Community Survey feedback, which saw nearly 5,000 Midtown visitors, residents, and workers chime in—call for a blend of active and more passive uses. 

Those include water features, walking paths, an expansive tree canopy, a versatile performance stage and pavilion, art installations, active-use lawns, and sections for food and beverage purveyors, along with other components. 

With its chief designers in place, Midtown Alliance is preparing to kick off a philanthropic capital campaign for the 14th Street park in early 2026. 

The nonprofit membership organization is aiming to share the first concept renderings and preliminary cost estimates by next spring, officials relayed today. 

The 4-acre site's 14th Street frontage, as seen last summer. Google Maps

Field Operations was picked for its ability to meld “design innovation with a deep respect for place” in “creating public spaces that are vibrant, connected, and rooted in their communities,” with “an emphasis on natural ecosystems and community character,” according to Midtown Alliance’s announcement. 

“Our goal is to create a new kind of public experience for Atlanta—a dynamic, inclusive space that reflects the unique character of Midtown,” said Sarah Astheimer, partner-in-charge with Field Operations, in a statement. “Rooted in local ecology and shaped by community, this urban oasis will bring together art, nature, and everyday life in the heart of the city.”

In the meantime, cleanup efforts are underway to create an interim, public-accessible park space at the 14th Street site. A temporary lawn for pop-up events is scheduled to be ready before Atlanta’s month of FIFA World Cup 2026 matches kicks off in June.  

Site cleanup is underway for temporary park plans on 14th Street, as Midtown Alliance reports. Courtesy of Midtown Alliance

“We were amazed at the creative ideas that so many capable firms brought to this search effort,” said Midtown Improvement District Board Member Malloy Peterson, with Selig Enterprises, in the announcement. “We were impressed by Field Operations’ expertise and imaginative approach, which will be key to realizing our vision for this space.”

Added Mary Pat Matheson, Midtown Alliance Board Chair and CEO of the Atlanta Botanical Garden: “We’ve found the ideal partners to help bring this vision to life—creating an iconic public space that will become a landmark destination for everyone in our city.” 

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