Case Studies
Atlanta’s Famed Ponce City Market Development Expands Using Georgia-Grown Timber
Class A Office Utilizes Southern Yellow Pine
With 22 million acres of commercial timberland, the state of Georgia has been working to take advantage of the growing demand for mass timber. Recognizing the possibilities, real estate investment and management firm Jamestown blended local wood with innovative design, using mass timber to build a four-story office in Atlanta. 619 Ponce is the first commercial project in Georgia to use mass timber made from southern yellow pine (SYP) timber grown in the state itself.
An expansion of the famed Ponce City Market development located in the historic Old Fourth Ward of Atlanta, 619 Ponce serves as a signature business address. Jamestown has signed a large technology firm as the anchor office tenant, and Pottery Barn occupies most of the ground floor retail space. Both were attracted to the historic location and unique timber aesthetic of the property; the sustainability story added extra value.
Innovative Design Elements
The structure consists of SYP glue-laminated timber (glulam) columns, girders, and purlin beams, combined with SYP cross-laminated timber (CLT) panels for the floors and roof.
Download the case study to read more about the project’s unique design features that keep the timber interior free of visual clutter, including:
- A unique raised floor system
- Stacked girder/purlin design
- Column-girder connection details
“Southern yellow pine is prevalent in this area of the country, so the species can and should be utilized to build mass timber structures. We are excited about helping expand the potential with different species. Our hope is that by using southern pine on this building, it acts as a catalyst for the entire southeast region.”
– Leif Johnson, Structural Engineering Director at StructureCraft
Project Details
Location: Atlanta, Georgia
Size: 114,000 square feet
Construction Type: Type III-B
Completed: Summer 2024
Project Team
Owner: Jamestown
Architect: Handel Architects
Structural Engineer: StructureCraft (Timber structure) & DeSimone Consulting Engineers (Concrete)
General Contractor: J.E. Dunn
Mass Timber Installer: StructureCraft with Seagate
Mass Timber: SmartLam (manufacturer, CLT panels, glulam beams and columns) & Sauter Timber (Glulam fabrication, hardware installation)
Connectors: Rothoblaas
Connect with the 619 Ponce project team on the WoodWorks Innovation Network (WIN)
Get the latest case studies, technical resources and WoodWorks updates in your inbox. Sign up here.
