Revealed: New Renderings, New Branding For CNN Center
After years of speculation, the owner of CNN Center in Downtown Atlanta has revealed its plans for the future of the 1.2M SF property now that the cable news station has vacated.
CP Group has rebranded the building as The Center and revealed new conceptual renderings of the building that show a colorful mural facade and dramatic sculpture in its atrium. It has launched office and retail leasing of the building, presenting it as the first chance for companies to take office space at the property in 40 years.
“CP Group’s rebranding of the former CNN Center into The Center aims to create a unifying destination for commerce, culture, and connection while also honoring the building’s legacy as a historic Atlanta landmark in media, sports, and entertainment,” CP Group partner Chris Eachus said in a statement.
The developer and Rialto Capital Management acquired the building from AT&T, then CNN's parent company, in 2021 for $144.8M. It executed a sale-leaseback deal to allow CNN to stay where it had been since Ted Turner bought the complex in 1986, but that deal expires this year.
It opened as the Omni Complex in 1976 and is still connected to the Omni Hotel and State Farm Arena, where the NBA's Atlanta Hawks play. CP Group touted its proximity to Mercedes-Benz Stadium in the press release, highlighting that the site was chosen as a host city for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
CNN has already moved its employees, and the 5,000-pound CNN sign that adorned the front of the complex, to its Techwood campus in Midtown.
CBRE's Jeff Keppen and Nicole Goldsmith will be tasked with leasing the office space, Bisnow first reported. CP Group enlisted Coleman Weatherholtz of Healey Weatherholtz Properties to market the retail space in the building.
A spokesperson for the landlord said it will be “announcing new retail tenants soon,” but declined to answer any questions, including how much of the space in the complex will be dedicated to office and how much will be for retail. An online marketing brochure for the office space lists 459K SF for lease.
“Our vision includes curating an unparalleled selection of dynamic users, dining and retail experiences, entertainment offerings, and elevated lifestyle amenities — all of which will be carefully crafted to draw the community into the heart of the city,” Eachus said in the statement.
