ATLANTA — The landmark complex in downtown Atlanta once known as the CNN Center has reopened as a new, reimagined space.
The Center officially opened its doors to the public on Thursday. City of Atlanta leaders and the CP Group held a ceremony on Wednesday for the reimagined atrium space.
[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]
Ted Turner founded CNN nearly 50 years ago with a campus on Techwood Drive in Atlanta. CNN would eventually move its main operations to the CNN Center, which in the Omni International Complex, in the 1980s.
Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens says the CNN Center has shaped how the world sees Atlanta. He added that the Center marks a new chapter in the city’s history and will open the doors even wider.
“Downtown is where Atlanta shows up for the world and right now, the world is getting ready to show up for Atlanta,” Dickens said, referring to the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The centerpiece of the food hall that opened Thursday is a 60-seat bar that’s been dubbed “the largest in the city.” It’s surrounded by 11 new restaurant spaces that are much more high-end than previous food court.
The entrances are also upgraded, expanded and more welcoming, featuring murals from a local artist. And the spot where the giant CNN logo used to sit, will soon have a new sculpture featuring the letters “ATL” stacked vertically outside the south entrance.
The Center will be eventually used as a mixed-use destination with a new hotel in one tower and multi-family condos or apartments in another.
The development is also right near Centennial Yards. Both projects are part of a larger movement to revitalize downtown.
A grand opening celebration for the Center will be held in June. Construction for the rest of the project will also halt in June for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
[SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter]
©2026 Cox Media Group
