HIGH, HIGHER, HILLYER
The evolution of Atlanta's
first skyscraper.
PROJECT NAME: The Hillyer Building
Our Plan: Build up Atlanta’s History
At one time, the Hillyer Building was the city’s tallest, originally standing eight stories high. A feat of engineering? Kind of. Because it was too tall and too narrow for its time, the top five floors were eventually removed.
Through preservation efforts and the will of the community, the Hillyer Building — a Neel Reid “baby skyscraper” — was recognized in 1977 with landmark status.
Gene Kansas, on behalf of the Atlanta History Center, sold the building to design firm Breen-Smith (who learned about it on a website they built for Kansas; see “serendipity”) in 2010. The building became home to the firm, keeping lofty aspirations alive and well.
It was an honor to work with the Atlanta History Center in selling the Hillyer Building. Not only are they a first-class organization to represent, it also represented an opportunity for us to help translate property into profit, funds ultimately supporting the AHC mission — “to help preserve Atlanta’s history.” A “small” deal for us? Yes. A big deal for collective history, absolutely.
