Atlanta is a major city in the southern part of the United States; it boasts many beautiful buildings, but my favorite is The Bank of America Plaza. Located on over three acres of land on Peachtree Street, this building is centrally located in midtown Atlanta.
Standing just over one thousand feet, The Bank of America Plaza is the tallest building in the Southeast. The building is the salient structure in the Atlanta skyline because of its dark red exterior as well as its Art Deco shape. The commercial space of the building ends with a flat roof, and then a glass and steel pyramid culminates with a 90 foot spire made out of gold leaf. The gold leaf gives the building a warm glow throughout the day, and at night the pyramid is lit with yellow and orange high-pressure sodium lighting. Many people refer to The Bank of America Plaza as “the Pencil Building” because of the shape created by the pyramid and spire at its top.
Construction of the Bank of America Plaza only took fourteen months to complete in 1991 and 1992, one of the fastest times for any building taller than 1000 feet. The tower faces the surrounding streets at a 45 degree angle and is set back by 150 feet to create more space around the building. The additional space is used for parking and also has bike racks and plantings.
In 2020, the Bank of America Plaza gained Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold certification due to a sustainable building initiative. One of the great features of the Bank of America Plaza is how it was able to retrofit its operations and stay current with efficiency and sustainability standards without compromising its iconic, Art Deco design.
