New York-based Morris Adjmi Architects has completed a striking 16-story hotel and members club in Atlanta, Georgia, featuring an innovative concrete diagrid structure that serves as both the building's primary framework and defining aesthetic element. The Forth Atlanta hotel, named after its location in the city's historic Old Fourth Ward neighborhood, stands as a distinctive addition to the area's evolving skyline with its criss-crossing concrete beams forming an exoskeleton around the glass tower.
The building's most notable feature is its external concrete diagrid system, which wraps around the upper floors of the glass tower portion. According to the architectural firm, these diagonal columns serve a dual purpose, contributing to both the building's structural integrity and its visual appeal. Behind the cast-in-place concrete framework lies a window wall system that adds unexpected depth and transparency to the facade, creating unique geometric shadows and silhouettes throughout the guest rooms and suites.
The hotel's design thoughtfully responds to its surrounding context, with the lower three floors clad in grey brickwork that echoes the materiality of the nearby Ponce City Market complex, a former industrial site that has been transformed into a major retail and dining destination. This three-story podium extends outward to create generous outdoor spaces, including a 2,300-square-foot terrace featuring an open-air swimming pool on the south side and a smaller terrace dedicated to the members' club on the north side.
The interior design, developed collaboratively by Morris Adjmi Architects and Method Studios, creates a sophisticated yet welcoming atmosphere throughout the building. The hotel's lobby showcases dark slate floor tiles and rich wood paneling set against grey textured plaster walls, while comfortable seating is arranged around a dramatic fireplace housed within a large chimney breast clad in thin ceramic tiles. Low lighting throughout the day maintains an intimate, cozy ambiance that contrasts with the building's bold exterior presence.
Artistic elements play a significant role in defining the hotel's character, with carefully curated pieces enhancing the guest experience. Behind the reception desk, a forest entrance painting by artist Jack Spencer greets visitors, reinforcing the hotel's nature-influenced design concept. Near the concierge area, artist Becca Barnet has created a whimsical diorama featuring taxidermy foxes, pinned butterflies, and natural foliage, adding what the architects describe as 'charm and visual intrigue to the space.' A BDDW mountain tapestry anchors a thoughtful arrangement of vintage and contemporary seating in an adjacent area.
The members' club facilities occupy strategic locations throughout the building, offering exclusive amenities including a coworking space, private lounge, and a two-level fitness center. The fitness facility showcases the building's concrete structure as a design feature, with exercise equipment arranged around substantial concrete columns and across polished concrete flooring, creating an industrial yet refined aesthetic with a neutral color palette.
Guest accommodations take advantage of the building's distinctive concrete diagrid, which creates unique geometric patterns and shadows across the windows of rooms and suites. The interior design features rich earth tones and patterned wallpaper that complement the building's nature-inspired theme while providing a warm contrast to the bold concrete exterior structure.
The hotel houses four distinct dining and drinking establishments, each designed with its own aesthetic identity through a collaboration between Stokes Architecture Design and Method Studio. At street level, guests can access a casual cafe and bar, while the adjacent Italian steakhouse Il Premio features sophisticated dark millwork, jewel-toned surfaces, and luxurious patterned velvet and leather upholstery that create an upscale dining atmosphere.
The poolside restaurant and bar, named Elektra, embraces a Mediterranean-influenced design concept with pale sage green tones, warm wood tables and banquettes, and strategic turquoise accents that complement the outdoor terrace setting. On the building's rooftop, the cocktail lounge Moonlight draws inspiration from 1970s design, featuring characteristic glass-block windows, brown leather sofas, and abundant chrome-finished furniture and lighting that establish a retro-chic ambiance.
Forth Atlanta represents a significant addition to the Old Fourth Ward's ongoing transformation, which has accelerated dramatically over the past two decades since the completion of the first section of Atlanta's popular BeltLine trail system along a former industrial railway. The neighborhood now attracts both locals and tourists to destinations like the regenerated Ponce City Market, which houses popular establishments such as Pancake Social and Atrium, and other notable developments including Olson Kundig's contemporary glass office complex.
The project credits include Morris Adjmi Architects as the primary architect, with New City Properties serving as developer and owner. Method Co operates the hotel, club, and food and beverage facilities, while interior design was handled jointly by Morris Adjmi Architects and Method Studios for the hotel and club spaces, with restaurant interiors designed by Stokes Architecture Design in collaboration with Method Studios. The architectural photography was completed primarily by Matthew Williams, with additional images by Nicole Franzen showcasing the interior spaces and design details.
