Georgia World Congress Center - Pedestrian Mall

The Streets of the Georgia World Congress Center's Pedestrian Mall Are Made For Walking!

The Georgia World Congress Center Authority (GWCCA) acquired the design-build team of HGOR, led by Principal Lauren Standish, and the Manhattan Construction Company to develop Phase 1 of the downtown convention center's re-imagined pedestrian plaza. HGOR executed the planning and landscape architecture for GWCCA's vision of a connected campus through a phased evolution of Andrew Young International Boulevard.

The project's objective was to accentuate surrounding venues by enhancing and maximizing their interface with the streetscape. An additional priority was to reorganize roads creating a safe pedestrian experience from the hotel district through the GWCCA campus while providing smart, transit-rich density. As the fourth-largest convention center in the country, blending pedestrian traffic with dedicated bus and rideshare options will help flow attendee movement while relieving congestion along the Marietta Street corridor. HGOR recognized that this project was not only an opportunity to help ease congestion and provide more connectivity but also offer a mixed-use entertainment district that pieces together retail, restaurant, and residential components - making it a shop-stay-play destination.

Visitors can attend events at surrounding venues, then walk next door to grab a bite to eat, purchase Atlanta merchandise, or catch the end of a Falcons game - all within the convenience of a single plaza hub. The 3.6-acre site is phased out into five sections, including a gateway connecting to Marietta Street, East Plaza event space, Registration Hall, and Linear Park with corridor connectivity to the new Signia by Hilton hotel.