Constellations, a civic and socially-based shared workspace, received the Award of Excellence for Adaptive Use at the Atlanta Urban Design Commission’s 2019 Design Awards, a recognition of projects and programs that strive to improve the city’s buildings, places and neighborhoods, according to a press release. Located in Atlanta’s Sweet Auburn neighborhood, Constellations connects history with progress by breathing new life into a historic 1910 Neel Reid building locate.
The site was originally built as the Southern School Book Building and designed by architecture firm Hentz & Reid. During the building’s restoration process, Gene Kansas Commercial Real Estate brought the building back to its classic craftmanship by refurbishing the facade, repairing many of its original elements and showing off the exquisite timber frame construction.
“Of course there is a high honor in receiving the UDC Award of Excellence for our work at Constellations and in Sweet Auburn,” says Gene Kansas of Gene Kansas Commercial Real Estate. “But what we value most is that the city is shining a light on small projects with big impact, not just mega-deals that make headlines.”
Constellations was in good company with other awards recepients such as lilli Midtown for New Construction, Hotel Clermont for Historic Preservation, and Interface Global HQ for Sustainable Design.
“Our firm is guided by a principle to ‘demonstrate what’s possible,’” says Kansas. “So I see this recognition as positive reinforcement working to hopefully encourage others to also engage in small, purpose-driven projects.”
Today, Constellations’ collaborative workspace includes over 20 businesses, non-profits and entrepreneurs.
Information: constellations.community.
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