Georgia Chapter ASLA (GAASLA)

Our final built design merit award winning project!

Project: The Mill
Firm: TSW

Description: The Historic Excelsior Mill in Atlanta’s Old Fourth Ward, dating back to the 1890s, has been transformed into a 30,000-square-foot office for Cash App through thoughtful adaptive reuse. The landscape design enhances accessibility with ADA-compliant pathways and parking, while clean lines and geometric forms complement the building’s historic architecture. Reclaimed machinery serves as sculptural wayfinding, and a granite patio extends indoor spaces outdoors for gatherings. This revitalization preserves the mill’s character while creating a functional, visually compelling environment that honors its industrial heritage and meets modern needs.

General design - built project merit award winners (continued)

Project: Piedmont Office Plaza
Firm: FIELD LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE
Slides: 1-3

Description: Piedmont Office Plaza is a renovation of outdoor spaces at a previously underutilized office plaza. The use of native plantings and locally sourced materials creates a strong sense of place, connecting people to the surrounding environment. Native shade trees and custom seating are thoughtfully arranged to define outdoor rooms that offer comfort and enclosure for tenants and guests. Sustainable initiatives include onsite stormwater retention, the use of locally sourced materials, and the reuse of existing hardscape elements to minimize waste and reduce costs. These improvements strike a thoughtful balance between user needs and sustainability goals.

Project: Roosevelt Hall – A Landscape for Renewal, Resilience, and Reconnection
Firm: HGOR
Slides: 4-7

Description: The revitalization of Roosevelt Hall transforms a historically significant site into a vibrant civic landscape anchoring Atlanta’s West End. Once part of University Homes and vacant for over a decade, the 1.4-acre redesign was shaped through deep community collaboration to honor the neighborhood’s history while creating an accessible, sustainable, and culturally resonant public space. Streetscape improvements, native plantings, terraced seating, a rooftop terrace, and a community garden foster gathering, sustainability, and food access. Roosevelt Hall demonstrates how thoughtful landscape design can bridge past and present, restoring cultural identity and fostering inclusive community life in the heart of Atlanta.

General design - built project merit award winners (continued)

Project: Krog District
Firm: Core Landscape
Slides: 1-3

Description: The Krog District reimagines a historic industrial area in Inman Park and the Old Fourth Ward into a vibrant, walkable community hub along the Atlanta BeltLine. Anchored by Krog Street Market, the redevelopment transforms underused parcels into mixed-use buildings, pedestrian paseos, and enhanced BeltLine access—all while preserving the site’s historic character. At its heart is a people-first vision, with flexible public spaces, sustainable design, and a new Pocket Park that links the BeltLine with the district through playful landforms, tree
canopy, and sculptural landscape. Blending old and new, the Krog District demonstrates how adaptive reuse and community-centered design can catalyze a neighborhood’s future.

Project: Mercer University Atlanta Campus Transformation – Creating Identity and Experience through Place-Based Design Improvements and Pedestrian Bridge
Firm: HGOR
Slides: 4-6

Description: Mercer University’s Atlanta Campus has been transformed from a car-dominated commuter site into a vibrant, sustainable, and student-centered environment. Guided by a master plan rooted in ecological analysis of the adjacent 140-acre riparian forest, the campus now prioritizes pedestrian connectivity, green infrastructure, and inclusive design. Across 25 central acres, key projects include a renovated rooftop terrace, a mixed-use village, an improved central quad, and reimagined open spaces around the new Health Sciences building. The result is a campus that embodies environmental stewardship, elevates the student experience, and strengthens connections between the university and the city.