Crane Watch: Curvy, coppery Stella tower nearly complete
Josh Green
Fri, 03/28/2025 - 16:24
Two years after breaking ground, the tallest new building to alter Atlanta’s burgeoning skyline west of Georgia Tech has entered the homestretch of construction, standing out among its glassier, boxier competition.
Topped out last fall at 22 stories, Stella at Star Metals is considered the third phase of the $500 million Star Metals District. It stands over 11th Street, a block from Howell Mill Road in the Marietta Street Artery neighborhood.
Project developer Allen Morris Company describes Stella’s design as “stunning,” with its copper-like banding, curving lines and glass, and what will eventually be “expansive rolling green roofs.”
Stella’s floor count is higher than the district’s first two buildings: Star Metals Offices (15 stories) and Star Metals Residences (nine stories; rechristened Sentral West Midtown). All three projects were designed by Miami-based Oppenheim Architecture, though Dwell Design Studio is serving as architect of record on the Stella project.
Copper-like cladding and curvatures on Stella at Star Metals' south face, toward downtown, as seen this week. Photos by Urbanize Atlanta
Stella’s plans call for 327 luxury apartments (most of them higher than level six) designed to capitalize on skyline views. Swanky in-unit features will include Italian cabinetry, imported stone countertops, 10-foot ceilings, and some balconies up to 14-feet deep with gardens, project officials have said.
A two-story bar is also on tap for the 17th floor, with eastward views across the city.
At Stella’s ground floor, plans call for 25,000 square feet of retail anchored by two early tenant singings: restaurant concepts by Grass Fed Culture and Fishmonger. Other perks will include an infinity pool on the seventh floor, an indoor/outdoor gym with city views, an onsite dog park, and a theater-style movie room.
Allen Morris reps told Urbanize Atlanta last year Stella was on pace to start delivering apartments next month (though leasing has yet to begin), with completion coming sometime this summer.
How upper floors (and the sky-high bar space) on the 22-story Stella building’s eastern face (toward Midtown) are shaping up today.
Collectively, Allen Morris expects to build roughly 3 million square feet of development in West Midtown, eventually costing around $1.5 billion.
Since announcing it, Allen Morris officials have predicted the Stella tower will reshape the Marietta Street Artery neighborhood’s skyline in unique ways. Eventually, it’s expected to work in conjunction with a cluster of new buildings with an “urban forest” feel and large plaza space across three additional phases.
Demolition of the Stella site’s previous low-rise structures began in March 2023. See how far things have come since then—and where they’re heading, according to project renderings—in the gallery above.
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Images
Copper-like cladding and curvatures on Stella at Star Metals' south face, toward downtown, as seen this week. Photos by Urbanize Atlanta
A two-story bar is planned for Stella's 17th floor, with these eastward views across the city.
This angle lends an idea how future Midtown and downtown views will look from upper floors.
Some Stella balconies will be up to 14-feet deep with gardens, developers have said.
Looking northeast across the Marietta Street Artery building, toward Buckhead.
How upper floors (and the sky-high bar space) on the 22-story Stella building’s eastern face (toward Midtown) are shaping up today.
Stella at Star Metals' western facade today, overlooking the Howell Mill Road corridor.
Stella in relation to Interlock's second phase (at left), located just to the north.
How Stella's site looked as construction got underway in 2023.
In renderings that caused a splash among urbanists when released, green elements are depicted on the Stella at Star Metals building's east facade, toward Midtown. Courtesy of Allen Morris Company; designs, Oppenheim Architecture
A two-story, east-facing common area at the Stella building with Midtown and downtown views. Courtesy of Allen Morris Company; designs, Oppenheim Architecture/Square Feet Studio
Planned interior aesthetic for Stella apartments. Courtesy of Allen Morris Company; designs, Oppenheim Architecture
Plans for the Stella project's west (left) and south facades. Courtesy of Allen Morris Company; designs, Oppenheim Architecture; architect of record, Dwell Design Studio
Courtesy of Allen Morris Company; designs, Oppenheim Architecture
What's described as a resort-style pool on the seventh floor. Courtesy of Allen Morris Company; designs, Oppenheim Architecture
Courtesy of Allen Morris Company; designs, Oppenheim Architecture
Courtesy of Allen Morris Company; designs, Oppenheim Architecture
Courtesy of Allen Morris Company; designs, Oppenheim Architecture
Subtitle
How tallest component of $500M Star Metals District is taking shape
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