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{{short description|Former headquarters of CNN in Atlanta, Georgia, United States}} 
{{Use American English|date = November 2019}}
{{Use mdy dates|date = November 2019}}
{{Infobox building
| name = The Center
| former_names = Omni Complex (1976–1987)<br />CNN Center (1987–2024)
| logo = 
| image = Atlanta-cnn-center-aerial.jpg
| image_caption = Aerial view of The Center with previous CNN signage
| status = Complete
| address = 1 CNN Center<br />[[Atlanta]], [[Georgia (U.S. state)|Georgia]]<br />30303
| coordinates = {{Coord|33.757934|-84.394811|region:US_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| current_tenants = [[#List of tenants|List of stores and restaurants]]
| opened_date = {{Start date and age|1976}}
| architect = [[Tvsdesign]]
| owner = CP Group
| developer = [[Cousins Properties]]
| website = {{URL|https://cpgcre.com/project/cnn-center/}}
}}
'''The Center''', formerly and still commonly called the '''CNN Center''', is the former international headquarters of U.S. cable network [[CNN]] in [[Atlanta]], Georgia, United States. The main newsrooms and studios for several of CNN's news channels were located in the building. The facility's commercial office space was occupied by various units of the former [[Turner Broadcasting System]], now part of [[Warner Bros. Discovery]]. The Center is located in [[downtown Atlanta]] adjacent to [[Centennial Olympic Park]].

In 2020, CNN announced that it would relocate its Atlanta operations back to the Turner Broadcasting Techwood campus in [[Midtown Atlanta]]. The One CNN Center office building was acquired by CP Group in 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |title=CP Group, Formerly Crocker Partners, Acquires One CNN Center In Downtown Atlanta, GA. |url=https://cpgcre.com/news/cp-group-acquires-cnn-center-in-downtown-atlanta/ |access-date=2023-01-19 |website=CP Group |language=en-US}}</ref> Production activities moved back in October 2023, while the last of CNN's domestic programs moved in February 2024.

On April 4, 2024, CP Group announced that CNN Center would be renovated, and was in the process of being rebranded as "The Center."<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |last=Hansen |first=Zachary |title=CNN Center is no more. Atlanta icon's new name is now 'The Center' |url=https://www.ajc.com/news/business/downtown-atlanta-icon-cnn-center-rebranded-as-the-center/XCTFRXGCGZD53KT6LDN4PM3FI4/ |access-date=2024-04-08 |work=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution |language=English |issn=1539-7459}}</ref>

==History==
===1970s and 1980s===
The building opened in 1976 as the '''Omni International Complex''', a development by [[Cousins Properties]]. The [[Omni Coliseum]], an [[National Basketball Association|NBA]] and [[National Hockey League|NHL]] arena adjacent to the Omni International, had opened three years earlier, on October 14, 1972.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://dlg.usg.edu/record/geh_southline_225?canvas=0&x=237&y=303&w=1200 | title=Omni International Complex }}</ref> The Omni International office building was largely vacant until CNN moved its headquarters there in 1987 from its [[Midtown Atlanta]] site (old home of the Progressive Club on 1050 Techwood Drive and home to [[Turner Broadcasting System]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.atlantatimemachine.com/misc/techwd1.htm|title=1050 Techwood Drive|website=AtlantaTimeMachine|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120916005846/http://www.atlantatimemachine.com/misc/techwd1.htm|archive-date=2012-09-16|access-date=2011-05-16|url-status=live}}</ref> The building was bought for $42 million in 1985.<ref>{{cite news |title=Better than the CIA? |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/digitised/article/straitstimes19920112-1.2.36.1 |access-date=12 December 2023 |work=The Straits Times |date=12 January 1992}}</ref>

Over the years, the building had provided office space to various business tenants, as well as foreign consulates. The main floor featured an indoor [[ice rink]], as well as a small number of restaurants and a Gold Mine video arcade. Sid and Marty Krofft built an indoor amusement park called [[The World of Sid and Marty Krofft]], inspired by the creations of these [[Sid and Marty Krofft|popular children's television producers]]. Opened in 1976, it was the first indoor [[theme park]] in the United States, but it closed within six months. The complex also featured a multi-screen movie theater. For years, the theater offered daily showings of the 1939 film ''[[Gone with the Wind (film)|Gone with the Wind]]'', which [[Ted Turner]] called "The greatest movie ever made".<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1987/08/14/arts/turner-acquires-gone-with-the-wind.html|title=Turner Acquires 'Gone With the Wind'|work=The New York Times |date=August 14, 1987 |access-date=2018-04-06|language=en}}</ref>

===1990s===
[[Image:CNN Center interior.jpg|thumb|upright|Interior view]]
On May 11, 1997, the Omni Coliseum closed. Its replacement, Philips Arena (now [[State Farm Arena]]), broke ground on June 5, 1997. The Omni Coliseum was imploded on July 26, 1997, with the CNN Center taking on minor exterior window damage due to its close distance to the Omni Coliseum. Because of this, the CNN Center was expected to be damaged.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://atlanta.curbed.com/2018/8/13/17684418/building-implosions-demolition-georgia-dome-fulton-county-omni|title=Recapping Atlanta's 10 most dynamite implosions through the years|last=Green|first=Josh|date=13 August 2018|publisher=[[Curbed]] Atlanta|access-date=6 July 2020}}</ref> Philips Arena opened on September 18, 1999.

===2000s===
On April 4, 2007, Arthur Mann, an employee at the Omni Hotel, shot and severely injured his ex-girlfriend Clara Riddles inside the CNN Center. The adjacent CNN.com newsroom was evacuated shortly after the first shots were heard. Mann was confronted and shot by a Turner Security Officer, and both Riddles and Mann were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. Riddles later died of her injuries. An autopsy showed that Riddles was shot three times by Mann. The motive of the shooting is unknown.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/04/03/cnn.shooting/index.html?eref=rss_latest|title=Gunman kills woman at CNN Center |website=CNN.com|access-date=2 April 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2007/US/04/04/cnn.shooting/|title=Woman shot 3 times at CNN Center, autopsy shows |website=CNN|access-date=2 April 2017}}</ref>

{{see also|2008 Atlanta tornado outbreak}}
On March 14, 2008, an EF-2<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/03/15/storm.atlanta/index.html|title=Tornado trashes Atlanta|website=CNN.com|access-date=2 April 2017}}</ref> tornado passed through downtown Atlanta, damaging the CNN Center and leaving water and dust in the upper floors. The ceiling of the atrium was also damaged, allowing water to pour in and partially flood the food court. CNN's library was damaged, although it was not immediately known how much of its archives were damaged.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/03/14/storm.atlanta/index.html|title=Rescuers search for Atlanta tornado victims |website=CNN.com|access-date=2 April 2017}}</ref> Numerous injuries and widespread damage were reported overall. The Omni Hotel, attached to the CNN Center, was evacuated as a precaution, and more than 400 rooms had to be emptied of occupancy for two weeks.

===2010s===
{{image frame|content=[[file:CNN Center logo.png|160px]]|caption=Final logo as CNN Center}}
On June 13, 2014, a car crashed into the CNN Center, causing minor structural damage.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2014/06/13/us/georgia-cnn-center-crash/index.html|title=Car crashes through plate glass at CNN Center |website=CNN.com|author=Eliott C. McLaughlin|access-date=2 April 2017}}</ref> The driver claimed to have fallen asleep at the wheel, and was charged with [[driving under the influence]] (DUI) and possession of [[marijuana]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/vehicle-crashes-cnn-center/138247658|title=Driver charged with DUI after crashing into CNN Center|date=2014-06-13|work=WSBTV|access-date=2018-04-06|language=en-US}}</ref>

====Disinvestment from Omni Hotel====
In 2016, the [[chief financial officer]] (CFO) Pascal Desroches of Turner said the company would divest its 50% stake in the center's Omni Hotel in favor of redeveloping its Techwood campus in Atlanta. This is where other Turner broadcast operations are based.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Ariens|first1=Chris|title=Turner to Sell Stake in Part of Atlanta's CNN Center|url=http://www.adweek.com/tvnewser/turner-to-sell-stake-in-part-of-atlantas-cnn-center/293494|website=Adweek|access-date=1 December 2016|date=13 May 2016}}</ref>

===2020s===
{{main|George Floyd protests in Atlanta}}
On May 29, 2020, the CNN Center became the scene of rioting in response to the [[murder of George Floyd]] in [[Minneapolis, Minnesota]], four days earlier, as the building also houses a Zone 5 [[police precinct]] for the [[Atlanta Police Department]]. Rioters graffitied the CNN logo in the front of the building and caused property damage to the building's entrance glass [[Curtain wall (architecture)|curtain wall]] and APD vehicles; the front lobby was damaged, though protesters never breached into the core common area of the building, with the logo sign repainted shortly thereafter.<ref name=centerdamage>{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/29/us/cnn-center-vandalized-protest-atlanta-destroyed/index.html|title=CNN Center in Atlanta damaged during protests|publisher=CNN|last=Alfonso III|first=Fernando|date=May 29, 2020|access-date=May 29, 2020}}</ref><ref name=centerstilldamaged>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/Yve9DhT8Nt4 Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20200530075541/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yve9DhT8Nt4 Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yve9DhT8Nt4&t=771s| title = Violent George Floyd protests at CNN Center unfold live on TV | website=[[YouTube]]| date = May 29, 2020 }}{{cbignore}}</ref>

On June 29, 2020, exactly a month after the incident, [[WarnerMedia]] announced plans to sell the CNN Center. Once sold, WarnerMedia will continue to lease their existing space for several years until the Techwood campus, previously occupied by CNN until 1987, is expanded to accommodate CNN's Atlanta operations.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.wsbtv.com/news/local/atlanta/warnermedia-selling-cnn-center-downtown-atlanta-memo-says/VL5UQFMBIFETXJVZRTIGRJYHOE/|title=WarnerMedia selling CNN Center in downtown Atlanta|date=29 June 2020|publisher=[[WSB-TV]]|access-date=6 July 2020}}</ref>

On November 21, 2020, a group of [[Right-wing politics|right-wing]] [[Activism|activists]] organized by the [[WalkAway campaign]] gathered in front of the CNN Center. In the [[2020 United States presidential election in Georgia|2020 presidential election]], [[Joe Biden]] won the state's 16 electoral votes, the first [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] to win the state since [[Bill Clinton]] in [[1992 United States presidential election|1992]]. The protesters were inspired by claims of [[voter fraud]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newsweek.com/cnn-sucks-crowd-chants-outside-atlanta-headquarters-once-targeted-blm-protesters-1549261|title='CNN Sucks': Crowd Chants Outside Atlanta Headquarters Once Targeted by BLM Protesters|date=21 November 2020|publisher=[[Newsweek]]|access-date=26 November 2020}}</ref>

On January 11, 2023, it was reported that CNN would be leaving the CNN Center before the end of 2023.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.adweek.com/tvnewser/cnns-permanent-move-from-cnn-center-to-techwood-campus-will-conclude-this-year/521567/|title=CNN's Permanent Move From CNN Center to Techwood Campus Will Conclude This Year|date=11 January 2023|publisher=[[Adweek]]|access-date=12 January 2023}}</ref> CNN control room activities moved back to CNN's original [[Midtown Atlanta]] campus on October 30, 2023.  Several weekend shows would continue to be based at CNN Center through the end of 2023.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.ajc.com/life/radiotvtalk-blog/production-officially-ended-at-cnn-center-friday-moving-to-midtown/2XVSYIULP5FT5LJVHI3U7N3EE4/|title=Production officially ended at CNN Center in Atlanta Friday, moving to Midtown | date=29 October 2023|publisher=[[Atlanta Journal Constitution]]|access-date=29 October 2023}}</ref> On February 25, 2024, ''CNN Newsroom'' and ''CNN This Morning Weekend'' aired their final broadcasts from the CNN Center, and moved to Techwood the following week.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-02-26 |title=CNN's ATL-Based Programming Ends Use of CNN Center Studios |url=https://www.adweek.com/tvnewser/cnns-atl-based-programming-ends-use-of-cnn-center-studios/ |access-date=2024-03-04 |website=TVNewser |language=en-US}}</ref>

On April 4, 2024, CP Group announced that CNN Center would be renovated and rebranded as "The Center."<ref name=":0" />

==Features==
[[File:CNN Center office 201207.jpg|thumb|CNN Atlanta Newsroom]]
[[File:CNN Checking Inn.jpg|thumb|Inside CNN Studio Tour check-in]]
The CNN Center also houses an [[Omni Hotels & Resorts|Omni Hotel]] and features a large atrium [[food court]] frequented by local business employees, tourists, attendees at [[State Farm Arena (Atlanta)|State Farm Arena]], and [[Mercedes-Benz Stadium]] events, and conference attendees from the nearby [[Georgia World Congress Center]].

CNN's multi-channel output to the world is broadcast on large screens around the center. Until 2020, studio tours were available and included demonstrations of technologies, such as [[Chroma key]] and teleprompters, as well as visits to viewing galleries overlooking the newsrooms and anchors of [[CNN International]], [[HLN (TV network)|HLN]], [[CNN 10]], and [[CNN en Español]].

The atrium escalator used to first transport visitors to [[The World of Sid and Marty Krofft]] and later to the CNN tour has been listed in the ''[[Guinness Book of World Records]]'' as the "longest freestanding (supported only at the ends) escalator in the world"; it is {{convert|196|ft}} long.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/421346-longest-freestanding-escalator#:~:text=The%20longest%20freestanding%20escalator%20measures%2058.83%20m%20%28193,is%20the%20diagonal%20path%20length%20of%20the%20escalator|title=Guinness Book of World Records|website=www.guinnessworldrecords.com|language=en|access-date=2025-02-28}}</ref> Built for the theme park that once occupied the building, it is part of the building's original structure, making it very hard to remove. The steel exoskeleton remains, but the escalator was removed the week of February 24, 2025 as a part of the renovations transitioning the building from "The CNN Center" to "The Center."

[[Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority|MARTA]] rail service is provided to the CNN Center at the [[GWCC/CNN Center station]]. Access to the Red and Gold lines may be gained by a ten-fifteen minute walk to [[Peachtree Center station]].

===List of tenants===
* [[Arby's]]
* [[Atlanta Police Department]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.atlantapd.org/community/apd-zones/zone-5|title=Atlanta Police Department Zone 5|website=www.atlantapd.org|language=en|access-date=2020-05-30}}</ref>
* AT&T Store
* [[BurgerFi]]
* [[Cartoon Network]] Store
* [[Chick-fil-A]]
* China Breeze
* Dantanna's Downtown
* [[Dunkin' Donuts]]
* Fresh to Order
* [[Great Wraps]]
* [[McCormick & Schmick's|McCormick & Schmick's Seafood Restaurants]]
* [[Moe's Southwest Grill]]
* Natural's Ice Cream, Yogurt & Smoothies
* Roman Delight
* [[Starbucks]]
* [[Subway (restaurant)|Subway]]
* TJ's Sandwiches
* [[United States Postal Service|U.S. Postal]] Store
* [[Wells Fargo Bank]]

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*[https://www.cnn.com/ CNN.com website]
*[https://tours.cnn.com/ CNN Center Studio Tour website]
*[https://tours.cnn.com/cnn-store CNN Store]
*[http://www.omnihotels.com/FindAHotel/AtlantaCNNCenter.aspx Omni Hotel at CNN Center]
{{Omni Hotels &#38; Resorts|state=expanded}}
{{Atlanta landmarks}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cnn Center}}
[[Category:Mass media company headquarters in the United States]]
[[Category:Mass media in Atlanta]]
[[Category:Office buildings in Atlanta]]
[[Category:CNN]]
[[Category:Mass media museums in the United States]]
[[Category:Telecommunications museums in the United States]]
[[Category:Museums in Atlanta]]
[[Category:Warner Bros. Discovery]]
[[Category:Office buildings completed in 1976]]
[[Category:1976 establishments in Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:Brutalist architecture in Georgia (U.S. state)]]
[[Category:Omni Hotels & Resorts]]