PROJECT SITE
City Springs City Center is the new community, government, and cultural hub for the city of Sandy Springs.
Sandy Springs, Georgia

POSITION
Project Architect / BIM Manager / Contract Administrator

FIRM
Rosser International, INC.

PROJECT STATISTICS
Cost Of Construction = $230 MILLION
Site = 14 Acre Redevelopment
Performing Arts Center Seating Capacity = 1,070
Black Box Theatre / City Council Seating Capacity = 350
Ballroom / Conference Center / Rooftop Terrace Seating Capacity = 300

AWARDS
• Submitted 2019 A.I.A. Georgia Design Award
• Submitted 2019 A.I.A. South Atlantic Region Award

DESCRIPTION

City Springs is the new community, government and cultural hub of Sandy Springs, Georgia. It replaced a 14-acre strip center with a vibrant mixed use, public-private development featuring a four-acre urban park. Architectural components include a 1070 seat performing arts center, black box theatre, ballroom / conference center with roof terrace, city hall, retail and underground parking. 300 residential units were developed by a private sector developer.

As the community gathering space for civic, cultural, retail and residential activity; site design focused on maximizing green space. The site is located at a high point in the city bounded by three major roadways.

The City Green is composed of five exterior rooms; Gateway plaza, the Arrival court, the Green, the Shade Bosque and Market Square, each with a signature water feature. Gateway plaza is the visual arrival point. Together with the PAC, the plaza constitutes the City’s civic statement. Gateway plaza extends to both sides of Roswell Road and features flanking fountains.  The arrival court is the vehicular drop off for the development. The Green is the lawn component of the four-acre park and is for gatherings, festivals and concerts. The space is bounded by two water fountains, shade structures and a performance stage. To the northwest is the shade Bosque which forms a green ceiling in counterpoint to the lawn. Market Square is the concentration of retail around a central space opening to Johnson Ferry Road. This arrangement connects retail to the interior of City Springs while affording retail tenants visibility from Johnson Ferry. Water for the fountains and irrigation are supplied by captured storm and condensate water stored in underground cisterns.

In organizing the large architectural program, the government center, entertainment venues and conference center were combined into a mixed-use facility defining the northern edge of city Green. This footprint allowed for more open space. The sites 25-foot grade change enabled all truck docks, service areas and parking to be below grade.

To coordinate scale and materials, a datum line at thirty feet was established under which brick and architectural precast offered a pedestrian scale.  Above this datum the office is set back and clad with transparent glass that blends with the sky. Sited on a ridge, the building has great views of the Atlanta skyline from various roof terraces. A brick and precast arcade form the primary southern elevation of City Hall providing a civic porch and a soft edge to the park. A tall and bright atrium lobby welcomes visitors linking north and south entries to city hall.

The third floor of City Hall houses the Conference Center with a 300-seat ballroom, pre-function space, meeting rooms and a large roof terrace for outdoor events. Below this terrace is the Studio Theatre, a 350-seat multipurpose room that functions as a “black box” theatre, a ballroom, Jazz cabaret and City Council Chamber.

With the curved curtain wall gesture and sweeping sunshade, the PAC Lobby showcases events and patrons while carrying one’s eye into City Springs. The theater’s fly loft is diminished by depressing the stage floor to the service level, allowing patrons to enter at mid-level, adding drama to the three-level auditorium.