The architectural, urban planning and egineering firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) has been selected by the Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA) Board of Directors to lead the transformation of the Five Points rail station in downtown Atlanta.
SOM will oversee the deconstruction of the massive canopy in the center of Five Points Station, the design of the potential connection from Marietta St. to Alabama St., and the recreation of a welcoming public plaza space. The scope of work also includes laying the groundwork for future transit-oriented development (TOD) in the heart of the city.
“We recognize that the original construction of Five Points, while a massive investment in city and transit infrastructure development at the time, eliminated several old city-block buildings and bifurcated Broad Street,” said MARTA General Manager and CEO Jeffrey Parker. “This transformation seeks to repair some of that urban fabric and reimagine this space as a bustling transit hub that improves the customer experience and contributes to the greater aesthetic and unique feel of downtown.”
The MARTA Board of Directors approved the station transformation in January 2019, as part of the More MARTA Atlanta project sequencing. Since approval, MARTA has worked closely with the city of Atlanta, private developers and other stakeholders to better understand current and future growth downtown and how the station transformation can best serve transit customers while enhancing the city.
Multiple feasibility studies have been conducted to ensure that the construction can be done safely, efficiently and with minimal to no impact on day-to-day operations at Five Points, and in a way that most effectively lays the groundwork for future development over the station.
Additionally, MARTA consulted with the Urban Land Institute and Georgia Tech to ensure the project included sustainability components at every step and that near- and long-term development incorporates the unique history of the Five Points area and downtown Atlanta.
SOM will spend the next few months preparing for the most difficult part of the project--the deconstruction of the canopy, and closure of the opening that looks down from the plaza level to the concourse and the removal of the large sign that hangs below it. MARTA is in the procurement process for a construction manager at risk (CMAR) and will come before the board in October to request approval. Construction will begin late this year or early next, with a completion date in 2025, with a buffer of time for any contingencies, before Atlanta hosts the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Five Points is MARTA’s largest and busiest rail station and is the main transfer point between the system’s North/South and East/West rail lines and a hub for 10 bus routes. All bus and rail service will continue to operate out of Five Points during the work and construction of the city’s first bus rapid transit line along nearby Summerhill Avenue with a connection to Five Points, will also progress with service scheduled to begin in fall 2024.
The overall budget for the Five Points station transformation is $150 million and is funded by the More MARTA half-penny sales tax in the city of Atlanta.
