The 17th Street Bridge in Atlanta, Georgia: Context-Sensitive Design Process

The new 17th Street Bridge provides a vital link between midtown Atlanta, Georgia, and the proposed Atlantic Station development. The project was presented to the community as an opportunity to create a signature structure for Atlanta–-a gateway into the city. The community was extensively involved in the development of the bridge. Through a series of community workshops, focus groups, and architectural task groups, the bridge was defined and detailed, and pedestrian mobility and safety were the focus of the final product. The resulting bridge, though significantly different from the original vision, has met with approval from the community.