Atlanta, GA (June 20, 2023) – Jamestown, a design-focused real estate investment and management firm, today announced the topping out of 619 Ponce, a four-story mass timber loft office building at Ponce City Market in Atlanta. The building, which includes 87,000 square feet of office space and 27,000 square feet of retail space, is being constructed with local, Georgia-grown timber and targeting net-zero carbon ready, LEEDv4 Core & Shell certification, and Fitwel certification.
Whereas most timber for mass timber construction is currently sourced from Canada, Austria or Germany, Jamestown is utilizing timber sourced and produced locally. Jamestown’s use of Georgia-grown timber and a regional supply chain – a first for mass timber construction in Georgia – reduces the project’s transportation emissions and the overall environmental impact of construction, maximizing the sustainability benefits of mass timber and growing the regional economy.
“Because mass timber components are prefabricated off-site, mass timber buildings can be constructed faster than concrete and steel buildings,” said Michael Phillips, President of Jamestown. “The modularity and off-site fabrication is also part of what makes mass timber more sustainable. Faster construction timelines and fewer delivery trucks can lessen the impact on the environment. As mass timber awareness and expertise grows, we will be able to realize the potential shorter construction schedules more fully as an industry. With its regional supply chain, 619 Ponce is a step toward that goal.”
The building’s columns, beams, and floor slabs are made of local southern yellow pine sawtimber harvested from Georgia forests, including from timberland Jamestown owns and sustainability manages near Columbus, Georgia. Jamestown owns and sustainably manages more than 100,000 acres of timberlands across Georgia, Alabama, South Carolina, New York, Pennsylvania, and Indiana. The timberland is managed under the 2022 SFI® Forest Management Standard, which provides third-party verification of sustainable forestry management based on a number of factors, including measures to protect water quality, biodiversity, wildlife habitat, and threatened and endangered species.
The sawtimber was transported to Georgia-Pacific’s sawmill in Albany, Georgia, where it was converted into lumber. The lumber was then transported to SmartLam’s mass timber plant in Dothan, Alabama, where it was manufactured into cross laminated timber (CLT) panels. The CLT panels were erected on site at Ponce City Market by StructureCraft and JE Dunn, with full building completion expected in 2024.
“From concept, 619 Ponce has been designed as a mass timber structure. Creative use of Southern Yellow Pine's unique structural properties enabled highly efficient connection systems, reducing the embodied carbon of the connection steelwork. The dry floor build-up system atop the CLT deck uses sand in lieu of concrete topping, further reducing the building's carbon footprint. Combined with a highly efficient structural frame and regionally sourced Southern Yellow Pine, this sustainable choice of systems has created one of the lowest carbon mass timber office buildings we have engineered," said Leif Johnson, Structural Engineering Director at StructureCraft and Engineer of Record on 619 Ponce. “It’s a great example of how true architectural and structural design collaboration, along with engaging local timber suppliers, can lead to a highly creative and efficient mass timber design.”
“The technical services team at Georgia-Pacific worked with SmartLam to understand the unique product and quality specifications for mass timber as well as the delivery timetable for 619 Ponce, as it was important for us to ensure we could provide a predictable supply chain for this project,” said Fritz Mason, President of Lumber at Georgia-Pacific. “Due to recent investments in our lumber mill in Albany, Georgia, and the capacity to expand our production capability at the site, we were able to meet SmartLam’s needs and deliver on our promise.”
“JE Dunn exists to enrich lives through inspired people and places, and 619 Ponce is a shining example of that through its sustainable efforts and impact on the local area,” said Keith Neas, Superintendent at JE Dunn. “Through more efficient and safer methods, the mass timber structure was able to rise to completion in just a short amount of time.”
The first office and retail leases at 619 Ponce have been announced. Sage – the leader in accounting, financial, HR, and payroll technology for small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) – will relocate its Atlanta offices to a 57,000-square-foot space at 619 Ponce in the fall of 2024. Pottery Barn will open a new store on the ground floor of 619 Ponce in early 2024. The space, which totals more than 18,000 square feet, will offer furniture, bedding, bath, rugs, window treatments, tabletop, lighting, and decorative accessories as well as an outdoor patio featuring the brand’s outdoor furniture collections and an expanded Design Studio with an enlarged consultation area for the brands expert Design Crew to assist customers with complimentary design services.
"We are thrilled about our company's relocation to the new office space at 619 Ponce. This move signifies our commitment to the city's growth and showcases our dedication to contributing to its thriving economy as a technology leader. We are excited to create a collaborative experience for our colleagues and serve small and mid-sized businesses, communities, and customers in an even more meaningful way. We look forward to this exciting chapter in our company's journey," said Aziz Benmalek, President of Sage North America.
The use of locally sourced mass timber at 619 Ponce complements Jamestown’s broader sustainability commitments. The real estate investment and management firm has committed to achieve net zero operational carbon by 2050 and adopted all 17 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Designed with a focus on sustainability and wellness, 619 Ponce is targeting net-zero carbon ready, LEEDv4 Core & Shell certification, and Fitwel certification. Additionally, the project aims to leverage best practices for material specification, prioritizing human health by minimizing chemicals of concern in building materials with special focus on interior high touch elements. Material selections, like mass timber, accented by a natural zinc facade, prioritize embodied carbon reduction and support of the local economy by sourcing materials from within 100 miles where possible. Handel Architects is the Design Architect and Architect of Record for the project.
Amenities at 619 Ponce will include onsite daycare and medical facilities, direct access to the Atlanta BeltLine, bike storage, and complimentary access to The Roof at Ponce City Market. In addition to outdoor space on every level, the building’s biophilic design will feature natural wood columns and ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows with operable panels.
The new building is part of Ponce City Market’s next phase, which also includes a flexible-stay hospitality living building featuring 405 furnished units with short-term and long-term stay options and Signal House, a new residential building designed for sophisticated residents seeking frictionless living. More information about 619 Ponce and the next phase is available here.
Ponce City Market first opened its doors in 2015 and has since been credited as a catalyst for revitalizing Atlanta’s Old Fourth Ward neighborhood. It has become a must-visit place on travelers’ Atlanta bucket lists, a beacon in Atlanta’s skyline, and a destination for locals to gather, shop, eat, and live. Today, Ponce City Market is a major employment hub for creative and technology companies and is home to 90 businesses. The new development is projected to bring more than 550 long-term jobs to the campus. In total, Ponce City Market will house some 100 businesses collectively employing more than 5,750 people and will include over 800 residences when the project is complete and fully activated.
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About Jamestown
Jamestown is a global, design-focused real estate investment and management firm with a 40-year track record and mission to create places that inspire. Since its founding in 1983, Jamestown has executed transactions totaling approximately $40 billion. As of March 31, 2023, Jamestown has assets under management of $12.5 billion and a portfolio spanning key markets throughout the U.S., Latin America, and Europe. Jamestown employs more than 500 people worldwide with headquarters in Atlanta and Cologne, and offices in Amsterdam, Bogotá, Boston, London, Los Angeles, Madrid, New York, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C. Current and previous projects include One Times Square and Chelsea Market in New York, Industry City in Brooklyn, Ponce City Market in Atlanta, Ghirardelli Square in San Francisco, the Innovation and Design Buildings in Boston and Lisbon, and Groot Handelsgebouw in Rotterdam. For more information, visit www.jamestownlp.com.
About Ponce City Market
Developed by real estate investment and management firm Jamestown, Ponce City Market is a historic, mixed-use community hub featuring local and world-class food and retail, residential lofts, and office space. With ample public green space and a pedestrian network directly linked to the Atlanta BeltLine corridor, Ponce City Market is a landmark in Atlanta’s skyline and an iconic destination for visitors and neighbors alike. At its core is a buzzing indoor/outdoor Central Food Hall featuring restaurants and food stalls, from emerging local food concepts to James Beard award-winning and -nominated chefs. The community hub’s diverse retail offerings include a mix of national brands like Anthropologie, West Elm, Williams Sonoma, and J. Crew as well as local Atlanta-based shops like Modern Mystic, The Village Retail and Rhen’s Nest Toy Shop. When construction on the next phase of development is complete, Ponce City Market will include five buildings offering more than 700,000 square feet of office space, 350,000 square feet of retail space, and over 800 residential and hospitality living units. For more information, please visit www.poncecitymarket.com; www.next.poncecitymarket.com.
