Atlanta BeltLine Chooses Perkins+Will and James Corner Field Operations To Lead Corridor Design

Atlanta BeltLine, Inc.‘s (ABI) Board of Directors has recently selected Perkins+Will and James Corner Field Operations to lead the design of the 22-mile BeltLine Corridor. Perkins+Will’s team is led by Leo Alvarez, John Threadgill and Ryan Gravel, the urban designer whose graduate thesis is the basis of the BeltLine project. James Corner Field Operations recently completed the design of The High Line in New York City, one of the most innovative urban park projects in the United States.

“The eyes of the nation are on Atlanta’s BeltLine as a model for smart growth and urban redevelopment,” said Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed. “The selection of this world-class team to design the BeltLine corridor is a great step forward for one of the most significant projects in our city’s history.”

“The BeltLine vision has expanded considerably since its inception, and now stands as a model for sustainable infrastructure strategies and public space throughout the country,” according to Ryan Gravel of Perkins+Will. “First-rate design is critical to the success of the BeltLine, and Perkins+Will is honored to help Atlanta carry its vision forward as lead of the corridor design team. For me personally, clearly the BeltLine has been a passion over the last 10 years, so I am particularly excited to be a part of this process.”

Progress on the BeltLine is actually already visible in many parts of Atlanta. Four new parks, two permanent trail segments and nearly eight miles of temporary hiking trails are set to open in 2010. A 1-mile hiking trail in the West End neighborhood was completed in October, 2008. There are events scheduled for the spring and summer celebrating the BeltLine through temporary public art, as well as a number of groundbreakings and ribbon cuttings.