Dean of Libraries Leslie Sharp hosts a conversation with a panel of experts, to explore the significance of Peachtree Center and the importance of historic preservation in Atlanta. Join us to uncover the stories behind Peachtree Center’s iconic design, explore why preserving Atlanta’s landmarks matters, and understand how preservation shapes vibrant, connected communities.

Panelists Include:

Dean Baker, Lead Architectural Historian Southeast and Southwest, Chronicle Heritage

Jennifer Ball, Chief Operating Officer, Central Atlanta Progress, Atlanta Downtown Improvement District (ADID)

Alex McGee, Head of Archives and Special Collections & Curator of Defining Skylines 

David Yoakley Mitchell, Executive Director, Atlanta Preservation Center

Jeffrey Jensen, Doctoral Student, Georgia Tech School of Architecture and Retired Preservation Specialist, General Services Administration

Danielle S. Willkens, PhD, Assoc. AIA, FRSA, LEED AP BD+C, Associate Professor, Georgia Tech School of Architecture

In 2018, Peachtree Center, a prominent mixed-use district located in Downtown Atlanta, Georgia, known for its distinctive modernist architecture and extensive network of interconnected buildings, was added to the National Register of Historic Places due to its significance under architecture and community planning and development for the work of architect and developer, John C. Portman, Jr. 

This program is presented alongside the Defining Skylines exhibit in the Price Gilbert Memorial Library gallery on display through Dec. 5, 2025.