Listen to this. 1180 Peachtree, also known as the Symphony Tower, stands tall. It is a 41-story skyscraper in Midtown Atlanta.
The building rises 657 feet into the Georgia sky. 1180 Peachtree includes office and retail spaces. There is a 1200-space parking deck, too. Construction finished in 2006.
Pickard Chilton, an architectural firm from Connecticut designed 1180 Peachtree. The building includes environmental innovations. It earned LEED gold certification. The U.S. Green Building Council recognized its energy-efficient design.
Look up. Notice the sweeping glass fins. They extend from the north and south walls. At night, they light up. This gives 1180 Peachtree a Gothic feel. Kendall/Heaton Associates served as the Architect of Record.
King & Spalding, an Atlanta-based law firm, occupies over 60% of the tower. It is their international headquarters. They moved from 191 Peachtree Tower downtown.
1180 Peachtree was intended as the campanile. It would have been part of the Woodruff Arts Center’s Atlanta Symphony Center. Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava designed the Symphony Center. The project was planned for land next to 1180 Peachtree. Fundraising goals must be met before construction starts. The Symphony Center project costs $300 million.
The plaza level is built over service areas and parking access. This plaza has an intensive garden. There is hardscape development near the lobby. This creates pedestrian spaces for tenants and visitors.
The tower steps back at the 18th level. There is a non-accessible greenroof here. The developer wanted LEED certification early in the design. The plaza level landscape was planned for marketing reasons. The 18th level roof became a target for LEED points. It reduces the heat island effect. The roof also enhances the building’s visual appeal.
1180 Peachtree was the first high-rise office building. It achieved Silver LEED certification for core and shell. The property uses environmentally-sensitive technologies. It also incorporates energy-efficient considerations.
Ten-foot floor-to-ceiling glass allows natural light. A unique water-management system captures storm water. It also collects condensate from the mechanical system. This provides all irrigation water. The system avoids the need for city water.
Outside air is delivered via a pre-conditioned air system. Air monitoring stations control humidity levels. This controls mold and mildew. Vegetated roof areas cover at least 50 percent. A shading veil is on the 41st level roof.
In 2009, BOMA-Atlanta awarded 1180 Peachtree the Earth Award. This recognizes excellence in environmentally sound building management. The TOBY awards program recognizes building quality and management.
1180 Peachtree has two intensive roof gardens. The plaza level garden has over 27000 square feet of landscape. The 18th level has approximately 8000 square feet. Lightweight engineered soil mixes are used.
The plaza level structure was built upside-down. This was done for clearance requirements below. The troughs allow tree planting.
The plaza irrigation system has zone separation by plant type. It draws water from a retention vault. The system uses a Calsense controller. It also uses rain and soil moisture sensors. An evapo-transpiration gauge calculates water needs.
The 18th level garden provides a welcome sight. This is especially true from higher floors. Soil depth is minimal for an intensive roof garden. Plant material selections considered extreme temperatures. They also considered high winds.
In 2001, a team secured a 6.2-acre Midtown site. It is located at 14th & Peachtree. The team secured the tenancy of King & Spalding. 1180 Peachtree won awards for its architecture. It also won awards for its LEED Certification. The building has had an economic impact on Midtown Atlanta. It sold in October 2006 for $407 per square foot.