Construction beginning soon on Nobu hotel in Phipps Plaza expansion

The buzz-worthy announcement last year that Atlanta will get a Nobu restaurant and hotel — joining the ranks of locations like Ibiza, London and Miami — is starting to take shape.

The luxury boutique hotel and Japanese dining brand comes as part of a multi-million dollar redevelopment at Phipps Plaza. The massive project will also include a 90,000-square-foot Life Time gym and a 13-story office building with a Class A status — a designation for the most prestigious buildings with above-average rents.

The overhaul has also ushered in new dining options throughout the mall, such as Public Kitchen & Bar and Genuine Pizza. But the biggest draw will likely be Nobu, whose founding investors include actor and director Robert De Niro, film producer Meir Teper, chef Nobu Matsuhisa and New York restauranteur Drew Nieporent.