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The ATL artwork by artist Michael Porten replaces the signature CNN letter that were outside the building previously.
Credit: Amanda Andrews/GPB News
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Ahead of World Cup former CNN Center reopens as The CTR in downtown Atlanta
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The former CNN Center reopened to the public on Wednesday as The CTR. City leaders celebrated the reopening of the redesigned landmark building with music and confetti.
The CTR includes murals from Atlanta artists, restaurants, a World Cup shop, and residential floors.
Chris Eachus is the founding partner of CP Group, the firm that led the redesign. He said the reopening marks a new chapter of growth for the city.
“It's the first of a wave, a wave that will last long after the World Cup leaves Atlanta,” Eachus said. “What we are witnessing, what all of you in this room are helping us build today is the beginning of a new era for downtown Atlanta.”
The building first opened to the public 50 years ago. Business leaders at the reopening remembered Tom Cousins, who designed the building, and Ted Turner, who chose it as the CNN headquarters.
Metro Atlanta Chamber President Katie Kirkpatrick said Turner’s impact on Atlanta is immeasurable.
“When he created CNN, he didn't just launch a network; he put Atlanta on the global stage. And changed how the world connects to news and to one another,” she said. “And actually, I believe helped us secure the Centennial Olympic Games through that news lens.”
The redevelopment is part of a larger effort to bring people and businesses back to Downtown Atlanta.
Other major redevelopment projects in the area include the South Downtown rebuild, Centennial Yards construction, and the Five Points train station renovation.
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said investments in redevelopment help Atlanta host major events like the World Cup.
“Fans from across the globe will walk across the street to stay in our hotels, eat in our restaurants, and experience Atlanta firsthand,” he said. “Moments like that require a downtown that is active, welcoming, and ready. The CTR helps us meet that moment, everybody.”
The CTR will be the official Atlanta World Cup headquarters for over 3,000 volunteers working matches and events around the city this summer.
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