Martin Luther King, Jr. Federal Building

Constructed in 1933 as the main U.S. Post Office for Atlanta, the Martin Luther King Jr. Federal Building carries the cultural distinction of being the first named in honor of the late Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Lord Aeck Sargent planned and designed the building's renovation to house the Southeastern headquarters for the U.S. General Services Administration. The project, which is Certified LEED Gold, is a fusion of rehabilitation, renovation and sustainable design. Important character-defining features of the building, such as the historic postal lobby, stairway, windows and marble and granite facade, have been preserved, while the remainder of the building was renovated to include Class A office space, modernized elevators and updated electrical and HVAC systems.

Sustainable design features include high efficiency mechanical and lighting systems, low flow plumbing fixtures, landscaping with native plants, incorporation of daylighting strategies and commuter friendly elements such as bicycle racks and changing facilities. These strategies give the building an energy usage that is 15 percent better than code.