Atlanta Biltmore Hotel and Biltmore Apartments
The Atlanta Biltmore Hotel and Biltmore Apartments is a historic Atlanta complex that evolved from a 1924 hotel and apartment development into a mixed-use property containing offices, condominiums, and restored event spaces.
Last updated August 24, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
The Atlanta Biltmore Hotel and Biltmore Apartments is a landmark historic complex in Midtown Atlanta, Georgia. Opened on April 19, 1924, it originally combined an eleven-story hotel with a ten-story apartment building. The development was associated with William Candler, son of Coca-Cola executive Asa Candler, and was undertaken with Holland Ball Judkins and John McEntee Bowman. The New York architectural firm Schultze and Weaver designed the complex, while Bowman-Biltmore Hotels operated the hotel at its opening. When completed, the development stood away from Atlanta's traditional downtown core, in an area that subsequently became known as Midtown. Its architecture and highly visible profile helped make it a prominent Atlanta landmark. The complex is especially recognizable for the tall radio masts at either end of the principal building and for the vertically illuminated letters spelling "BILTMORE." Its upper-floor studios became associated with WSB-AM, which broadcast from the building from 1925 until 1956. The masts initially supported the station's transmitting antenna; after WSB increased its power in 1929, the principal transmitter moved to a site in East Lake. The property changed hands and identities several times during the second half of the twentieth century. Sheraton Hotels acquired it in 1967, invested approximately $5 million in renovations, and operated it as the Sheraton-Biltmore Hotel. In 1979, Sheraton sold the property to Biltmore Hospitality Partners, which restored the Atlanta Biltmore name. The complex was added to the National Register of Historic Places on January 20, 1980. The hotel closed in 1982. After a 1984 acquisition by Renaissance Investment Corporation, the property was targeted for conversion into condominiums. The apartment tower was renovated, but the developer entered bankruptcy in 1986 before the broader redevelopment could be completed. The renovated apartment building subsequently operated for a period as the Biltmore Suites Hotel, while the principal hotel structure remained vacant for years. Novare Group purchased the complex in January 1998 and undertook a major adaptive-reuse project. The main hotel building was gutted and converted into office space, reopening in 1999. The adjoining Biltmore Suites Hotel closed in 1998 and was converted into condominiums marketed as Biltmore House, which opened in 1999. Because of successive renovations, only two major historic public interiors remained in the principal building: the ballroom and dining room. These were restored and became The Biltmore Ballrooms, public event spaces that preserve part of the complex's original hospitality character. Georgia Institute of Technology purchased The Biltmore from Novare in June 2016. The property is adjacent to Technology Square and forms part of the institution's broader Midtown Atlanta setting. In 2025, Georgia Tech announced plans to relaunch the building as a hub for technology entrepreneur offices. The complex therefore represents several overlapping stages of Atlanta's urban history: early twentieth-century luxury hospitality, radio broadcasting, hotel-brand ownership, failed condominium redevelopment, office conversion, event use, and university-linked innovation infrastructure.
History
The Atlanta Biltmore Hotel and Biltmore Apartments opened on April 19, 1924, as a substantial mixed hotel-and-residential development in what became Midtown Atlanta. The project was developed by William Candler, together with Holland Ball Judkins and John McEntee Bowman. Its hotel operations were assigned to Bowman-Biltmore Hotels. Schultze and Weaver, a New York architectural firm known for hotel design, created the buildings. The hotel rose eleven stories and the apartment building ten stories, giving the complex a conspicuous presence outside the established downtown district. The buildings were distinguished by large radio masts positioned at the ends of the hotel structure. Illuminated vertical lettering identified the property as BILTMORE. The upper levels also played a role in Atlanta broadcasting history. WSB-AM used studios in the building from 1925 through 1956, and its transmitting antenna was supported by the masts during the station's early years. In 1929, after WSB increased its transmission power to 5,000 watts, the station established a suburban transmitter site in East Lake. In 1967, Sheraton Hotels acquired the property. Following a reported $5 million renovation, the hotel operated as the Sheraton-Biltmore Hotel. Sheraton sold the complex in 1979 to Biltmore Hospitality Partners, which returned the Atlanta Biltmore name. The property gained formal historic recognition when both buildings were listed on the National Register of Historic Places on January 20, 1980. The hotel closed in 1982. Renaissance Investment Corporation bought the property in 1984 with plans to convert both towers into condominiums. Renovation of the smaller apartment tower was completed, but the company went bankrupt in 1986 before the full redevelopment was finished. The renovated apartment tower later reopened as the Biltmore Suites Hotel, while the much larger hotel building remained unused for an extended period. Novare Group acquired the complex in January 1998. Its redevelopment removed most of the principal hotel's prior interior configuration and converted the building into offices, which opened in 1999. The adjacent Biltmore Suites Hotel closed in 1998 and was converted into condominiums under the Biltmore House name, opening the following year. The redevelopment left only two major historic public rooms in the principal building: the ballroom and dining room. These spaces were restored and continued as public event venues known as The Biltmore Ballrooms. Georgia Institute of Technology purchased The Biltmore from Novare on June 13, 2016. The complex sits next to Technology Square, placing it within a major university, research, and technology district in Midtown Atlanta. In 2025, the university announced plans to relaunch the building as a center for offices serving technology entrepreneurs. The property's history is consequently one of repeated adaptation: hotel and apartment development, broadcasting site, branded hotel, attempted condominium conversion, office redevelopment, event venue, and university-associated technology space.
- 2025
Technology-entrepreneur hub planned
[1]Georgia Tech announces plans to relaunch the building as a hub containing offices for technology entrepreneurs.
- 2016
Georgia Tech becomes owner
[1]Georgia Institute of Technology purchases The Biltmore from Novare on June 13.
- 1999
Office and condominium conversions open
[1]The former hotel building reopens as offices, while the adjoining tower opens as Biltmore House condominiums; restored public rooms operate as The Biltmore Ballrooms.
- 1998
Novare Group begins adaptive reuse
[1]Novare Group acquires the complex, closes the Biltmore Suites Hotel, and starts converting the principal building to offices and the adjoining tower to condominiums.
- 1986
Renaissance Investment Corporation bankruptcy
[1]The developer pursuing a condominium conversion enters bankruptcy, leaving the broader project incomplete and requiring a subsequent sale.
- 1982
Hotel closes
[1]The hotel operation shuts down before the property's later redevelopment phases.
- 1980
National Register listing
[1]The hotel and apartment buildings are listed on the National Register of Historic Places on January 20.
- 1979
Return to the Atlanta Biltmore name
[1]Biltmore Hospitality Partners purchases the property from Sheraton and renames the hotel the Atlanta Biltmore.
- 1967
Sheraton acquisition and renovation
[1]Sheraton Hotels acquires the property, renovates it, and operates it as the Sheraton-Biltmore Hotel.
- 1925
WSB-AM begins broadcasting from the complex
[1]Studios on the upper floor begin hosting WSB-AM broadcasts, linking the Biltmore to Atlanta's early radio history.
Products and positioning
A historic Atlanta property and adaptive-reuse landmark rather than a current hotel-chain brand. Its identity is built around architectural heritage, Midtown location, restored event interiors, and later conversion into residential, office, and university-related uses.
Historic hotel · 1924
Atlanta Biltmore Hotel
The original eleven-story hotel component opened in 1924 and was operated by Bowman-Biltmore Hotels before later passing through Sheraton and independent Biltmore ownership. The hotel closed in 1982. After remaining vacant for years, the building was substantially converted into offices by Novare Group and reopened in 1999.
Residential apartments and condominiums · 1924
Biltmore Apartments
The ten-story residential tower was part of the original 1924 complex. It was renovated during an attempted condominium conversion in the 1980s, later operated temporarily as the Biltmore Suites Hotel, and was ultimately converted into Biltmore House condominiums, which opened in 1999.
Event venue · 1999
The Biltmore Ballrooms
The Biltmore Ballrooms occupy the complex's restored historic ballroom and dining room. These are among the principal public interiors retained after the extensive office conversion and continue the site's connection with gatherings and hospitality.
Brand decisions
2025
Planned relaunch as a technology-entrepreneur hubStrategyBackground
Under Georgia Tech ownership and next to Technology Square, the building was identified for a new role connected with Atlanta's technology and innovation ecosystem.
Action taken
Georgia Tech announced plans to relaunch the building as a hub for offices serving technology entrepreneurs.
Aftermath
The announced plan would extend the property's transition from hotel use to university-associated technology and office infrastructure.
1998
Adaptive reuse of the hotel complexStrategyBackground
After years of vacancy and an earlier failed condominium redevelopment, Novare Group acquired the property and pursued a mixed-use conversion.
Action taken
The main hotel building was gutted and transformed into offices, while the adjoining hotel-apartment tower was converted into condominiums.
Aftermath
The office building reopened in 1999, Biltmore House condominiums opened in the adjoining tower, and the restored ballroom and dining room continued as The Biltmore Ballrooms.
Sources1 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/atlanta-biltmore-hotel-and-biltmore-apartments · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled