ATLANTA (May 27, 2014) - The facade of 131 Ponce de Leon Ave. in Midtown has re-emerged at the new mixed-use development being erected at the site. The facade is famous in architect circles for being the first commercial design by superstar architect I.M. Pei.
Developer Faison Enterprises had vowed to restore the facade after dismantling it earlier this year to make way for the new development. Faison said the Pei-designed office building at 131 Ponce would be repurposed as a clubhouse for the apartments that would replace it.
In 2012, Bull Realty brokered the sale of the prime property to a JV between Sereo Group Inc. and Faison. The Wilbert Group, the leading real estate PR firm, announced the sale on behalf of Bull.
We drove by the site yesterday, and true to its word, Faison has reinstalled the facade and shell of the I.M. Pei building he designed in 1949 as an office building for Gulf Oil. In 2008, another developer proposed plans to the property, and that drew a lot of attention to 131 Ponce as people realized its importance to architectural history.
We'll keep an eye on this one as see exactly how the building is woven into the fabric of the new 131Ponce.
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