CNN Center

CNN Center. It is a major office and studio complex in downtown Atlanta that served as the global headquarters for the CNN cable news network from 1987 until 2023. The distinctive complex, with its large atrium and iconic globe logo, became a symbol of the network and a significant tourist attraction. Its history reflects the evolution of both the Turner Broadcasting System media empire and the urban development of its surrounding Centennial Olympic Park district.

History

The structure originally opened in 1976 as the Omni International complex, a mixed-use development anchored by the Omni Coliseum arena and designed by the architectural firm Thompson, Ventulett, Stainback & Associates. Developer Tom Cousins envisioned it as a vibrant urban hub. In 1987, media mogul Ted Turner relocated the headquarters of his Cable News Network and other Turner Broadcasting System channels into the building, which was renamed and extensively renovated. The facility played a prominent role during the 1996 Summer Olympics, housing the main international broadcast center for networks like NBC and serving as a backdrop near Centennial Olympic Park. Following the merger of Turner Broadcasting with WarnerMedia, later part of AT&T, the complex remained the nerve center for CNN's worldwide newsgathering operations for decades.

Architecture and facilities

The multi-building complex is notable for its vast, eight-story atrium featuring a food court, escalators, and the world's longest freestanding escalator. The architectural design incorporates the original Omni Coliseum structure, with the atrium serving as a central concourse. Key broadcast facilities included numerous television studios, such as the main CNN newsroom visible to the public, control rooms, and production offices for networks like HLN and CNN International. The complex also contained office space for Turner Broadcasting System divisions, retail spaces, and direct pedestrian connections to the State Farm Arena and the Omni Hotel at CNN Center.

CNN operations

For over 35 years, the complex was the primary production and broadcasting center for CNN's domestic and international networks. Major programs such as "Anderson Cooper 360°", "The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer", and "CNN Newsroom" originated from its studios. The location housed executive leadership, including founders Ted Turner and Reese Schonfeld, and later presidents like Jeff Zucker. It functioned as the central newsroom where journalists coordinated coverage of historic events from the Gulf War and September 11 attacks to United States presidential election nights. Supporting operations for Turner Classic Movies and Cartoon Network were also based there during the Turner Broadcasting System era.

Public access and tours

The atrium was a publicly accessible space, drawing visitors to its retail and dining options. The main attraction was the **CNN Studio Tour**, which offered a behind-the-scenes look at a working newsroom and broadcast studios. Visitors could observe anchors and producers during live broadcasts, view exhibits on newsgathering technology, and ride the long escalator through the atrium's center. The tour was a staple of Atlanta tourism, often combined with visits to nearby attractions like the Georgia Aquarium, the World of Coca-Cola, and the National Center for Civil and Human Rights.

Relocation and future use

In 2023, CNN completed a relocation of its headquarters to a new building at Techwood Campus, consolidating operations with other Warner Bros. Discovery units. The move ended the complex's direct association with daily news production. The property, owned by the CPP Investment Board, is slated for a major redevelopment. Plans announced in 2024 involve a partnership with Georgia State University and Cousins Properties to transform the site into a mixed-use academic and innovation district, potentially including facilities for the university's J. Mack Robinson College of Business and new residential, retail, and research spaces, further altering the landscape of downtown Atlanta.

Category:Buildings and structures in Atlanta Category:Television studios in the United States