Georgia Tech, Tech Square Phase III
DumontJanks, with Ennead and Lord Aeck Sargent, led the creation of a comprehensive ten-year plan for the expansion of Georgia Tech’s “Tech Square” — an innovation hub at the heart of Midtown Atlanta. The plan treats Tech Square as an extension of the core campus, bridging the interstate to connect academic, research, and commercial activity. More than a collection of buildings, the effort defines Tech Square as a true district: one that integrates program, infrastructure, and place-making into a coherent framework for long-term growth.
The work focused on shaping an innovation ecosystem supported by multi-modal mobility, district infrastructure, and a mix of services and amenities. Analysis quantified the right balance of retail and residential life that would complement existing campus and Midtown amenities. Extensive survey and mapping exercises (collaboration studies, mobility mapping, and space needs analysis) grounded the plan in data on how people use and move through the district. These findings were paired with scenario development to test a range of densities. The plan leverages proximity to two MARTA subway stations as anchors for greater urban connectivity.
The plan addressed the scale and role of open space, ensuring that new public environments are appropriately sized to the proposed research campus and surrounding city fabric. Sustainability, historic preservation, and urban design guidelines were integrated with programmatic requirements. Implementation phases considered how space needs, demographics, services, mobility systems, and amenities can evolve in tandem with academic and research growth.
Working closely with Georgia Tech faculty and leadership, the team established instructional and research space needs for Tech Square’s next building project, while aligning with budget constraints, donor priorities, and the broader district framework. This roadmap defines massing, siting, access, and frontage strategies that serve both the campus and the city, reinforcing Tech Square as a catalyst for innovation and a model for district-scale planning.
