Bank of America Plaza

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Bank of America Plaza, nicknamed the pencil building, is a supertall skyscraper between Midtown and Downtown Atlanta, Georgia. It is 1,023 feet (312 m) tall and has 55 floors of offices. When it was finished in 1992 it was the tallest building in the United States outside New York City and Chicago. It is still the tallest building in Georgia, and it was the tallest in any U.S. state capital until August 2025.

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At a glance

Country: United States
Location: Atlanta, USA
Built: 1992
Height: 312 m
Type: Skyscraper

Quick answers

Where is Bank of America Plaza?

Bank of America Plaza is in Atlanta, USA, United States.

When was Bank of America Plaza built?

Bank of America Plaza was built in 1992.

How tall is Bank of America Plaza?

Bank of America Plaza is about 312 m tall.

Atlanta's tallest skyscraper, capped by a gold-leafed open-steel pyramid and obelisk spire.

The tower was first meant to be the headquarters of Citizens & Southern National Bank, but a bank merger and takeover meant it opened as NationsBank Plaza. It is most famous for its dark walls and for the gold-covered spire and glowing pyramid at the top, which make it easy to spot on the Atlanta skyline.

A giant built in 14 months

Cousins Properties developed the tower, and the architecture firm Kevin Roche John Dinkeloo and Associates designed it in a Postmodern style that reminds people of Art Deco. It was built in only 14 months, one of the fastest schedules for any building of about 1,000 feet. Its vertical lines emphasize its height, and the dark outside makes it look even more imposing. It stands on more than 3.7 acres on Peachtree Street, at a 45-degree angle to the city's street grid.

The golden crown

On top is a 90-foot spire shaped like an obelisk, and most of it is covered in 23-karat gold leaf, which is about 96 percent pure gold. Under it sits a pyramid of open steel girders that is gilded and lit at night with yellow-orange lights, the same kind used in older street lamps. The people-filled part of the building simply ends in a flat roof, and the pyramid is built on top. The design has been compared to the Messeturm in Frankfurt, Germany.

Updates and owners

In 2014 a 30 million dollar renovation of the lobby, health club and conference space was completed, and afterwards the building earned LEED Silver certification, a green-building rating. CP Group bought the tower for 380 million dollars in 2022 and launched a 50 million dollar improvement programme, finished in 2025. The tower stands set back from Peachtree Street by more than 50 yards, and the MARTA North Avenue station is right across the street.