JLL Completes Renovations to Downtown Atlanta’s Historic Hurt Building

July 31,2018

JLL today announced the completion of $4-million-dollar renovations to Downtown Atlanta’s Hurt Building, one of the city’s oldest and most iconic skyscrapers. JLL handles project and development services, retail leasing, office leasing and property management on behalf of the owner, Gamma Real Estate.

Renovations to the historic high-rise began in October 2017 and delivered modern upgrades and finishes to the building’s interior, including a reimagined lobby and amenity-focused penthouse floor. Throughout the renovation process, JLL successfully preserved the historic architecture of the building while simultaneously revamping spaces with design elements and amenities that create a modern look and feel.

In addition to interior upgrades, the Hurt Building is set to offer a wide range of retail experiences. JLL’s retail leasing team is pursuing further retail opportunities for the building’s main level, including first-to-market concepts and chef-driven restaurants. Other prospects include gourmet food markets, breweries and distilleries, fitness studios, entertainment venues and service users. Starbucks opened its flagship location in the building’s main lobby in 2016.

“Street-level retail enhances the workplace experience, playing a critical role in activating office buildings and creating a contemporary, energetic place for tenants and the community,” said Coleman Morris, director of retail agency leasing at JLL. “With building renovations at the Hurt Building now complete, we look forward to delivering an exciting lineup of shopping and dining experiences that will bring new spark to this historic property.”

Since interior renovations began, JLL’s office leasing team has secured an impressive 50,000 square feet of new office leases, bringing the building to 80% occupancy. For tenants, enhanced amenities such as collaborative conference facilities, creative common areas and a state-of-the-art fitness studio create a flexible and engaging work environment.

“With renovations now complete, we couldn’t be happier with the energy the Hurt Building brings to Downtown Atlanta,” said Jonathan Kalikow, president of Gamma Real Estate. “The Hurt Building has been a landmark in Atlanta for over 100 years, and with upgrades that perfectly balance modern amenities with historic charm, we’re confident it will remain one of Downtown Atlanta’s premier office destinations for years to come.”

Gamma Real Estate recognizes the importance of investing in the next generation of professionals in the downtown market and driving employment and multifamily growth. Gamma has incorporated unique, out-of-the-box program to engage tenants and the community. Last month, the firm partnered with Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) to sponsor a contest offering 130 SCAD students the opportunity to create sculptural artwork that aligns with the redesign and rebranding of the Hurt Building. The thoughtfully crafted installations supplied the building’s common corridors with colorful and interesting features throughout each of the 18 floors. Photos of the student’s submissions and winning projects can be found here.

The transformation of the Hurt Building reinforces the resurgence of Downtown Atlanta. As a whole, the submarket continues to benefit from new investment, as comprehensive amenity packages, street-level retail and tenant-focused design elements have evolved into a significant tool for attracting and retaining top talent from nearby universities. According to JLL’s report, “Why Downtown: Examining the Renaissance Taking Place in Downtown Atlanta,” Millennial and Gen X residents comprise the majority of Downtown’s population, and a staggering 65,000 students can be found within the submarket, including hundreds of students from Herzing University, which occupies a full floor at the Hurt Building.

“With the buzz of activity rising in every corner of the Downtown submarket, the completion of these renovations marks another exciting milestone in Downtown Atlanta’s renaissance,” said JLL vice president Mike Werner. “Throughout the project, we have been thrilled to collaborate across several of JLL’s business lines to modernize the Hurt Building while maintaining the character and integrity of the historic property.”

About JLL

JLL (NYSE: JLL) is a leading professional services firm that specializes in real estate and investment management. A Fortune 500 company, JLL helps real estate owners, occupiers and investors achieve their business ambitions. In 2017, JLL had revenue of $7.9 billion; managed 4.6 billion square feet, or 423 million square meters; and completed investment sales, acquisitions and finance transactions of approximately $170 billion. At the end of 2017, JLL had nearly 300 corporate offices, operations in over 80 countries and a global workforce of 82,000. As of December 31, 2017, LaSalle had $58.1 billion of real estate assets under management. JLL is the brand name, and a registered trademark, of Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated. For further information, visit www.jll.com.