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June 26
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Sora is a 370,000 square foot, 30-story, 370-unit, high-rise apartment building located in the heart of midtown Atlanta. Set in the historic Spring Quarter, our team removed 42,000 cubic yards of dirt, leveling the site to street grade, a key component of Portman’s larger 4.09-acre master-planned development.
A/V specifications enhance the living experience, featuring structured cabling, access-controlled doors, video surveillance, and state-of-the-art audio-visual systems, alongside a robust emergency responder radio communications infrastructure.
The Sky Lounge on the 29th floor boasts sweeping skyline views and includes a private wine room, a garden lounge, and an elevated water feature with an outdoor bar and grilling area. The luxury fitness studio, complete with a yoga room, infrared sauna, and climbing wall, caters to residents seeking an active and holistic lifestyle. For golf enthusiasts, a cutting-edge golf simulator provides the perfect place to improve their swing.
Alongside Sora is Portman’s 25-story, 528,000 square foot, mixed-use tower for inspired workplaces, dining, and retail.
Sora’s design thoughtfully combines the area’s historic character with modern, luxurious touches in the residential units, inviting storefronts, and retail space.
One of the most significant challenges of the Sora project was coordinating construction amidst multiple adjacent projects, on an extremely tight site, in the middle of Midtown Atlanta. With the office tower going up at the same time and multiple cranes operating simultaneously.
Construction of the 29-story Sora at Spring Quarter multi-family tower in Midtown Atlanta presented significant challenges on a highly constrained urban site. JE Dunn partnered with Portman Holdings to deliver the 370-unit luxury tower as part of a larger mixed-use development, simultaneously constructing the adjacent 1020 Spring office building. Proactive planning, innovative strategies, and consistent stakeholder communication were employed to manage complex logistics, material constraints, and site safety requirements, successfully completing this landmark project.
Technology and process improvements were applied to address specific technical and logistical challenges. To ensure watertight integrity at the slab and curtain wall joint, a fire-rated, waterproof tape was implemented, replacing traditional methods for enhanced protection and installation efficiency. Managing crane and hoist access on the tight site was streamlined through a digital reservation app, improving coordination and resource allocation.
Project management efficiency was increased by utilizing BIM 360 for real-time punch list tracking and resolution. Proactive risk mitigation for plumbing systems involved hiring a specialist to camera-inspect risers in both Sora and 1020 Spring, verifying sanitary line integrity.
Key challenges included managing construction on an extremely tight site in Midtown Atlanta, coordinating activity alongside multiple adjacent projects (including the simultaneous 1020 Spring tower and a competitor’s project), and navigating busy city streets for site access and deliveries. Material and labor shortages, particularly for concrete, posed significant hurdles. Solutions involved developing a detailed logistics and scheduling plan pre-construction, fostering consistent communication among all stakeholders and neighboring teams through daily calls and weekly coordination meetings.
Site access plans were reviewed and approved with the Midtown Alliance and City of Atlanta. Material delivery constraints were managed through detailed scheduling, direct coordination with suppliers and other contractors, and the use of overtime. The Last Planner System was implemented to optimize scheduling in response to resource fluctuations.
A strong partnership with Portman Holdings was central to the project’s execution. JE Dunn prioritized the owner’s needs, incorporating a phased delivery schedule that allowed for incremental turnover of floors, including early completion of the parking garage, elevators, lobby, and amenity floor. Managing over 500 PCI’s and 1,000 RFI’s required precise coordination and weekly meetings to address cost and schedule impacts. Transparent communication ensured proactive identification and resolution of potential issues. The team demonstrated dedication beyond project completion, remaining available to assist with post-construction needs, such as responding to a fire alarm call at the adjacent office tower. This commitment solidified the trust built over seven projects with Portman Holdings, allowing JE Dunn to tailor their approach based on a deep understanding of the client’s priorities.
