Forming Iconic Ideas

We value discovery and data-influenced practices to achieve unprecedented development. Our extensive economic knowledge helps us understand what is achievable – from initial design to long-term operations.

Driving Architectural Innovation

Our team engages in a robust discovery strategy that addresses programmatic needs, improves function, and ultimately tests the boundaries that advance industry.

Capturing Creative Solutions

Our collaboration across market sectors establishes a blended approach that brings convergence and fluid connections to authentic placemaking. We believe that success derives from the design of mixed,

functional pieces tailored to symbiotic site relationships between form and space and integrated within an urban context.

As a collaborative design partner, our priority lies in cultivating trust-based relationships with clients, consultants, and stakeholders within our firm and the local community.

Our team is known for work that champions an inclusive ecosystem for artistic and cultural expression. We harness these pivotal forces to capture symbiotic relationships between form and space to animate community assets and infrastructure.

Through working experience and client insight, our team leverages market research and custom computational systems and tools to supply a tiered set of data criteria for gaging meaningful architectural impact.

Every design effort explores unique site positioning on all levels – drawing context from the senses and memories that characterize unrivalled place. Organic “wow moments” are derived by responding to programmatic needs with what the site offers.

Our team employs best practices in granularity, incrementalism, and mixed uses and scales to address urban challenges while delivering long-term economic returns to both the public and private sectors.
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Exercising progressive architectural strategies and space planning solutions allows us to unite evolving socioeconomic systems with urban placemaking.

Portman Architects remains steadfast in producing regenerative spaces with bespoke concepts such as breathing buildings and biophilic design. Learning from nature, we adapt modern solutions that consider energy use, indoor environmental quality, thermal comfort, materials and textures, natural ventilation, biodiversity, vegetation, and daylight management.
Portman Architects remains steadfast in producing regenerative spaces with bespoke concepts such as breathing buildings and biophilic design. Learning from nature, we adapt modern solutions that consider energy use, indoor environmental quality, thermal comfort, materials and textures, natural ventilation, biodiversity, vegetation, and daylight management.

Awards

JOHN C. PORTMAN, JR.

December 4, 1924 – December 29, 2017

Recognized throughout the world for his innovative design, John Portman did not always follow traditional paths. Always eager to try new concepts, early in his career he pioneered the role of architect as developer to allow more freedom in implementation of his design concepts. His keen business sense and entrepreneurial spirit enabled him to develop many profitable projects. His impact is greatest on his hometown of Atlanta where today the 14-block Peachtree Center complex attests to his commitment to the downtown business district and includes many of his landmark projects. Peachtree Center began in 1960 with the opening of the Atlanta Merchandise Mart. The Mart has since grown to become AmericasMart, the world’s largest single wholesale marketplace. By stimulating trade and tourism, Portman was the catalyst that established Atlanta as one of the nation’s premiere convention cities. His three major downtown hotels, the Hyatt Regency, Westin Peachtree Plaza, and Marriott Marquis, anchor the convention district.

We put people in popular and collective environment in which they can be most truly and happily alive.

JOHN C. "JACK"
PORTMAN, III

November 3, 1948 – August 28, 2020

Son of famed Atlanta architect John Calvin Portman Jr. and Jan Portman, Jack was born November 3, 1948 in Atlanta, Georgia. Jack graduated from The Lovett School in Atlanta, then earned a Bachelor of Architecture from the Georgia Institute of Technology and a Master of Architecture from Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design. He began practicing architecture in 1973 at John Portman & Associates, rising from an Apprentice Architect to become Chairman of the firm, now known as Portman Architects.

The challenge of the architect is to do something that seems to belong where it is situated.

1953
1961
1967
1975
1978
1980
1981
1993
2000
2015
2019
2020

Portman Architects through the years

The Beginning (1953)

John Portman opened his own office in 1953. His first commission was the renovation of the Fraternal Order of Eagles Building in downtown Atlanta on which he wanted to affix a contemporary metal sculpture of an eagle, and this was the beginning of his lifelong practice of incorporating art as integral elements within his designs to create a sense of place and identity for his work. The people of Atlanta continue to enjoy his contributions to the arts, from the magnificent bronze lions by Olivier Strebelle that he commissioned for Peachtree Center Avenue to Paul Manship’s towering Ballet Olympia on Peachtree Street. In addition, Portman’s work plays a prominent role in the lobby and plaza surrounding SunTrust Plaza in Atlanta and many other projects around the world.

Urban Renewal (1961)

Our founding project is a master plan and design of a 14-block mixed-use destination Peachtree Center with the opening of the Atlanta Merchandise Mart. The Mart has since grown to become AmericasMart, the world’s largest single wholesale marketplace in a fully integrated complex connected by aerial pedestrian bridges. This development was a catalyst that established Atlanta as one of the nation’s premier convention cities.

First Hyatt Regency Flagship in the world (1967)

The first Hyatt brand hotel opens with its 22-story atrium. We made architectural history and won international acclaim. ​By carefully rethinking the typical urban hotel, we readdressed the guest experience to create the antithesis of the confining environment of traditional city hotels by integrating biophilia and bringing the outside to the inside. In addition, Hyatt Regency Atlanta was fully integrated from its opening in 1967.

International (1975)

Our international work began with the design and development of the Brussels Trade Mart in 1975, then shifted to the Far East. Portman’s pioneer project, Shanghai Centre, a large, mixed-use complex, has been described by China Daily as “one of the five architectural stars in mainland China.”

AIA Medal (1978)

AIA Medal from the National American Institute of Architects in 1978 for innovations in hotel design, and the Silver Medal Award in 1981 from the Atlanta Chapter of AIA for innovative design. We redefined the signature hotels and the user experience — skyscrapers with escarpment atriums, cantilevered balconies overlooking interiors.

Asia (1980)

We entered China in 1980 as one of the first American architects or developers to become actively involved when China opened its doors to the West.

Urban Redevelopment (1981)

Phase Four of the 8.5 acre Embarcadero Center Master Plan was completed in 1981. In addition, we designed the Security Pacific Bank Building (finished in 1971), the Hyatt Regency Hotel (1973), and the Levi Strauss Building (1974), as well as The Shopping Gallery, a three-level mall.

Shanghai (1993)

Our Shanghai office opened its doors.

SunTrust Plaza Garden Office (2000)

We completed the SunTrust Garden Office design, the second phase of the SunTrust office Complex, which in its first phase included the central tower, SunTrust Plaza, a parking deck, and a food court. We moved our headquarters into this space, a new way of interpreting the office experience completed in 2000, well ahead of the Millennial trends requiring more collaborative space in the working environment.

Signature Hotels (2015)

The completion of key signature flagship hotels, including Renaissance Schaumburg Convention Center Hotel in Illinois (2006), Hilton San Diego Bayfront Hotel (2008), JW Marriott Shenzhen Bao’an (2015), and Hotel Indigo at Union Tower West in Denver, Colorado (2017).

Georgia Tech’s Tech Square (2019)

Contributing to Atlanta Midtown’s growing skyline, we focused on promoting connectivity and advancing an energized street life for this vibrant area. We completed Coda Tech Center in 2019, Anthem Technology Center, Phase I in 2020, and Anthem Technology Center, Phase II in 2021.

69 years (2022)

Portman Architects celebrates its 69th Anniversary.

Our Territory Breakdown

While our design HQ is in Atlanta, Portman Architects has projects around the world. We assemble our culturally diverse design teams across our two offices with members of multiple cultures, bringing a variety of views and experiences to our creativity.