As this installment of Crane Watch illustrates, an interstate-adjacent office building has climbed quickly in recent months to make a visual impact across numerous neighborhoods northwest of Midtown. 

The 16-story State of Georgia project broke ground last fall at 1715 Northside Drive NW, just south of Interstate 75 in Loring Heights. As of late June, it was little more than a few levels of a concrete parking deck.

By our count, the state-led development has between one and two stories left to climb over Northside Drive, and it’s now visible from multiple Beltline trails and streets from Blandtown to Buckhead.  

View of the 16-story State of Georgia project today, with Buckhead and Sandy Springs beyond, as seen from The Hill at Atlanta Waterworks greenspace. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

Current construction progress at the State of Georgia project, as seen over Northside Drive. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

Last year, Brasfield & Gorrie construction company and developer TPA Group demolished a longstanding strip club, a gas station, and other properties to clear the 12-acre site for development.   

The 250,000-square-foot office project will house the headquarters of two Georgia retirement systems: Employees’ Retirement System of Georgia and the Teachers Retirement System, along with the state’s Division of Investment Services. Both pension agencies are currently housed at the Two Northside 75 office complex, located just south of the new building site off Northside Drive.  

Jim Potvin, ERSGA executive director, told Urbanize Atlanta in November the building will count seven parking levels—one below grade, the rest above. 

Above that will be the quarter-million square feet for offices spread across nine floors, for a total above-grade building height of 15 floors. The state plans to occupy six of the office floors and lease the remaining three to an outside tenant or tenants, per Potvin. 

Construction at 1715 Northside Drive is scheduled to finish in March 2028, according to Brasfield & Gorrie officials. 

South face of the State of Georgia building today, as seen from the Beltline's Northwest Trail at Monday Night Brewing's The Grove. Josh Green/Urbanize Atlanta

Planned exterior designs for the 16-story State of Georgia project on Northside Drive. Courtesy of ERSGA

The Northside Drive site was assembled from separate properties where the Diamond Club, a Shell gas station, and years ago Waffle House had operated. 

The former strip club and its parking lots, reportedly purchased for $15 million, constituted the bulk of the property. 

Swing up to the gallery for more context and a closer look at the project from numerous angles in the area today. 

The 1715 Northside Drive site (in red) in relation to Northside Drive landmarks and I-75, northwest of Midtown. Google Maps

...

Follow us on social media: 

Twitter / Facebook/and now: Instagram  

• Loring Heights news, discussion (Urbanize Atlanta)