Bell South Switch Building

[monsoon]

No. This building is on Caldwell street near the arena. The one with the big microwave aerials on the roof of the building. There is no indication on the building as to its owner except a small plaque on the front door indicating BellSouth and AT&T. When it was constructed they were the same company. i.e. the old Bell System

[atlrvr]

It might just be repair work.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Ding ding ding.....we have a winner. It's nothing more than a re-roofing. Sorry E7.

[cinco]

No.

[ElricSeven]

Ding ding ding.....we have a winner.  It's nothing more than a re-roofing.  Sorry E7.

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Gawd it is an ugly building.

[monsoon]

These buildings are relics from the old Bell System, and almost every larger city served by the old Ma Bell has one. I agree the one here is particularly ugly, but look at the one in NYC. Imagine a 52 story building in downtown with no windows.

[ElricSeven]

These buildings are relics from the old Bell System, and almost every larger  city served by the old Ma Bell has one.  I agree the one here is particularly ugly, but look at the one in NYC.  Imagine a 52 story building in downtown with no windows.   

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

it looks like some alien monolith from 2001 a space odyssey

[A2]

it looks like some alien monolith from 2001 a space odyssey

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I agree E7.

A2

[teshadoh]

Interesting conversation - b/c again it's another under-rated building that receives bad press b/c of it's usage as a telecom hub. The very same can be said for Atlanta's AT&T telecom hub, which is truly a striking & magnificent art-deco midrise, but it was never fully built out, it's windows sealed & those ugly towers are on the top.

So - everyone hates it & dismisses it as an eyesore, but it wasn't supposed to be a simple vertical digital warehouse. I wonder if most cities have this dilemna, of a downtown telecom commercial building that was abandoned & switched to being a telecom hub.

[A2]

Interesting conversation - b/c again it's another under-rated building that receives bad press b/c of it's usage as a telecom hub.  The very same can be said for Atlanta's AT&T telecom hub, which is truly a striking & magnificent art-deco midrise, but it was never fully built out, it's windows sealed & those ugly towers are on the top.

So - everyone hates it & dismisses it as an eyesore, but it wasn't supposed to be a simple vertical digital warehouse.  I wonder if most cities have this dilemna, of a downtown telecom commercial building that was abandoned & switched to being a telecom hub.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Is this the one you are referring to teshadoh???

A2

[A2]

I think the ATL tower has a bit more character than this.

http://www.emporis.com/en/il/im/?id=283008

A2

[teshadoh]

You found a good picture A2, if anyone was interested I could provide some close ups of the facade & deco detailing of this building. But only 1/2 or 1/3 of the tower was built, it was to be around 30 stories of art deco beauty. Anyone who knows Atlanta, besides the Fox & City Hall know there is no art deco to speak of here.

[ilektronik]

Does anyone know why there is a crane in the BS PLaza parking lot?? (right in-between BS and the trolley tracks) I asked the security gaurds and they didn't know.

[A2]

I think they are going to be doing some work on the roof. I went by on Sunday and checked it out too.

A2

[ilektronik]

I think you're right A2. Thanks!

[atlrvr]

There is a building permit in today's Business Journal that is for "Facade Repair" for this building....possibly after the repair, they will do something with the horrible paint job and at least put some faux-transparent windows in.

[dubone]

I sure hope so. I have thought for a long time that they would get pressured to improve the facade now that their building will likely show up in some TV shots. New windows would be all it would take to make it look decent on the Caldwell side. The 5th Street side might be a lost cause, but I'm sure they could do something creative. Perhaps they could open up a 6 inch wide planting strip between the sidewalk and the building, and plant some flowering vines or ivy.

[monsoon]

Ma Bell was never known for putting up pretty buildings.

[dubone]

Ma Bell was never known for putting up pretty buildings.

Grandma Bell put up a pretty building, but Ma and Baby Bell sure destroyed it over the years.

[graydog]

I don't think it's boarded up (you're talking about the one with the large dishes on top right?) I'm pretty sure Wachovia and AT&T fully occupy that building.......It's actually a great building, that just some attention to restore it., plus some adjacent buildings to once again hide the bare walls......there is some very impressive detailing on it though.

Took these of said building today after work. (Forgot to take a shot of the sconces darn it.) I too hated this building at first and have grown to love it.

[cinco]

Took these of said building today after work. (Forgot to take a shot of the sconces darn it.) I too hated this building at first and have grown to love it.

i noticed that they have actually taken down the sconces. it looked like they did this only to get them out of the way from the scaffolding they're erecting. i hope that is the reason (pretty sure it is) b/c if they got rid of those that would really suck.