Architect reveals new design insights about historic Ponce City Market FLATS.

Stevens & Wilkinson, a full-service commercial architecture, engineering and interior design firm based in Atlanta and Columbia, S.C., announced the adaptive reuse and historic renovations of the formally named Sears, Roebuck & Company building’s uppermost seven floors of the east and west wings, creating the new FLATS at Ponce City Market. The completion of the apartment homes achieves a major milestone in the overall Ponce City Market project, which will restore 2.1 million square feet of space, creating a vibrant urban centerpiece that combines 300,000 square feet of retail and restaurants, 450,000 square feet of office space, and 330,000 square feet of 259 residential units.

As lead architect for Ponce City Market’s residential portion of the building in Atlanta’s Old Fourth Ward neighborhood, Stevens & Wilkinson oversaw the comprehensive creation of the FLATS to include a mix of studio, one-, two-, and three-bedroom units, including 17 two-level lofts. Fogarty Finger, based in New York, N.Y., contributed to the interior design.

As part of its historic preservation and adaptive reuse effort, Stevens & Wilkinson embraced the building’s 1925 architectural features, including historic masonry, columns and original design elements.

The FLATS feature the building’s original brick and concrete walls, concrete floors and columns along with iconic steel-frame windows. “Our architecture project team incorporated the building’s existing design elements into modern, livable homes,” says Ron Stang, principal of Stevens & Wilkinson. “By selecting the right balance between authentic elegance and functional structure, we transformed the FLATS into a juxtaposition of contemporary yet historic homes that residents are sure to love.”

Located on Ponce de Leon Avenue and adjacent to the Atlanta Beltline, tenants moving into the FLATS at Ponce City Market will reside at a hub of modern-day growth and activity brought on by the area’s gentrification, yet with the benefit of living in a truly unique atmosphere of yesteryear.

“The adaptive reuse of the FLATS is one of few current residential redevelopment projects in Atlanta dating back to the early part of the 20th century,” says Stang.

During the building’s nearly 90-year history, it was most notably used as a warehouse and store for Sears, Roebuck & Company and later became Atlanta City Hall East.

Stevens & Wilkinson also highlighted today several features about the FLATS’ design and architectural details. Most units were repurposed from old warehousing space, which has yielded wide-open floor plans in many cases. The architecture team adapted original structural columns to serve as subtle room or area dividers, offering a sense of uncluttered exposure within well-defined spaces. 

“One of the project goals was to honor the history of all the FLATS’ original structural elements, preserving them for new tenants and generations to come, while also designing comfortable, unobstructed residences,” says project architect Laura Morton, who became one of the building’s first residents.

According to Jamestown Properties, which has more than a decade of expertise in environmentally-sensitive land development, walkable street design, and green construction practices and operations, the FLATS at Ponce City Market will boast tall ceilings, Euro-style fittings, and treetop views.

The installation of water-efficient fixtures and landscaping, reclamation of rain water and other building-generated water, and the incorporation of LED lighting and proficient HVAC systems in the base building are all part of Ponce City Market’s goal to achieve LEED Core & Shell Silver certification, a highly honorable recognition of sustainable design. Tenants of the FLATS, offices and commercial spaces will be vested in state-of-the-art, sustainable and efficient conditions.

Stevens & Wilkinson had LEED certification in mind when finalizing how the FLATS would be designed. Energy-efficient appliances coupled with efficiently engineered mechanical and plumbing systems will contribute to the coveted sustainable design designation of “LEED for Homes.”

As the largest adaptive reuse project in Atlanta’s history, the entire Ponce City Market project is estimated at more than $200,000,000. The project is close to finishing construction with the expected completion in mid-2015.

To learn more about Stevens & Wilkinson, visit www.stevens-wilkinson.com, and acquire further details about the FLATS at Ponce City Market by visiting www.flatsatpcm.com.

About Stevens & Wilkinson: Founded in 1919, Stevens & Wilkinson is a full-service commercial architecture, engineering and interior design firm committed to providing clients with “Smart Design Solutions.” The firm’s combined design capabilities equate to projects executed with creative, innovative and holistic design solutions. www.stevens-wilkinson.com.