The former Atlanta Medical Center is brimming with activity as demolition crews take the first steps to tear down the hospital and put a 22-acre mixed-use campus in its place.
The hospital has been closed since 2022, when Wellstar suddenly shut the trauma center’s doors to the public. It sat empty until October 2024, when Wellstar Health System and Integral Group announced the campus would be turned into a hub for affordable housing, retail, green space and “well-being resources.”
Now the site is gearing up for a June demolition start. Engineering firm Ferma will handle the demolition and site preparation. On May 15, 2025 the crew began to assemble a high-reach excavator that will tackle the majority of the demolition for the large property.
The excavator assembly comes just days after Fox 5 Atlanta reported the site was issued a ‘Stop Work Order’ due to a lack of demolition permit.
“There’s been a lot of confusion along the lines of what we’re doing,” Ferma National Operation Manager Chad Maddock said.
He assured the project is getting the necessary permits to begin demolition around June. From there, demolition work will continue throughout the rest of the year. But Ferma employees have to prepare the site before tearing it down.
“Really, today we’re continuing to do environmental work,” Maddock said.
It’s an old hospital. According to Integral Group representative Rick White, some of the structures were built as early as 1927. That means Ferma must clear out high quantities of lead and asbestos to tear it down safely. White also said Wellstar and Integral are working to “document” the historic properties before destroying them.
Some historic preservation advocates pushed to save the historic mid-century hospital buildings, but White said it was “not possible.” Instead, he said a team of historic and construction experts will work to preserve some of the historic facades.
But none of the buildings will be preserved – over the next year, it’s all getting demolished and the lot will look “considerably different.”
“There’s a lot of material that’s going to be coming down,” Maddock said.
Maddock also said the demolition team aims to recycle about 95 percent of the materials that come out of the process – he wants to minimize negative impacts to the environment and community.
That’s also why the demolition and construction teams have met with community leaders. Maddock said during demolition, his team will meet with neighborhood stakeholders at least once a month to discuss possible traffic disruptions.
From there, “Phase One” of planning and design will continue through 2027. Construction will start with “Phase Two”, which will run through 2030, and “Phase Three” which ends in 2034. It’s a lengthy process but Integral representative White said its a fast pace for a development of this size.
Once completed the 22-acre site will be transformed into a mixed-use district. Project leaders hope to “prioritize inclusivity” with affordable and market rate housing, public green space and various health and wellness resources.
“This isn’t just about tearing down buildings,” Integral Program Management President Eric Pinckney said. “It’s about creating space for what’s next — a neighborhood that embodies the aspirations of those who live and work here.”
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