Brookhaven City Centre: The People's House

The story of Brookhaven City Centre began in 2022, when the city recognized the need for a permanent city hall, one that would be more than just a typical civic building. The goal was to create a place that could serve city business while also becoming a true community space. By November of that year, the first community engagement surveys were underway and early concept sketches began to take shape. Public feedback guided the planning process, helping to refine a vision rooted in flexibility, inclusion, and purpose.

Construction officially began with a groundbreaking on October 11, 2023, and less than a year later, the final piece of mass timber was hoisted into place during the topping out celebration on October 3, 2024. With each milestone, the Centre moved closer to becoming a lasting part of the city's story, a space designed to reflect the values and aspirations of the Brookhaven community.

While the structure itself rose quickly, great care was taken to ensure that Brookhaven City Centre reflects the city’s long-term values, especially sustainability, health, and well-being. Every detail was chosen with intention, from the materials to the message. The building is designed to represent a thriving tree, deeply rooted in the Brookhaven community and reaching upward with care, resilience, and vision.

Constructed using mass timber rather than traditional steel, the structure honors the environment with a renewable material that reduces carbon impact and supports a more sustainable future. Clean air systems, natural light throughout, and energy-efficient features contribute to a healthier experience for everyone who steps inside. Together, these elements create a vibrant space that feels both alive and grounded in purpose.

This environmental focus continues on the exterior, where sculptural frieze panels wrap the building in a story rooted in nature. The panels depict the life cycle of a peach tree, from first bloom to full fruit, surrounded by the birds, frogs, and other creatures that thrive in its branches and shade. The design pays tribute to City Centre’s location on Peachtree Road while embodying the values that brought it to life. Just as the peach tree offers nourishment and shelter, Brookhaven City Centre invites all who enter to feel grounded, inspired, and connected to something deeply rooted and ever growing.

Brookhaven City Centre is a reflection of the community it was built to serve. It brings together spaces that support civic life, encourage cultural expression, and foster everyday connection. Whether hosting a public meeting, an arts program, or a moment of quiet conversation, City Centre adapts to the many ways people live, work, and celebrate in Brookhaven.

The building features four levels of flexible spaces that make it easy to host everything from casual gatherings to citywide events. On the first floor, the Murphey Candler and Ashford Forrest Rooms can accommodate meetings, public luncheons, or small programs, with adjoining access to the bright and spacious Atrium. The third floor features the Chamber, a theater-style space for lectures, performances, or screenings. At the top, the International Room connects directly to an open-air rooftop terrace, framed by the Cherry Blossom Dome and skyline views of Kennesaw and Stone Mountains. Just outside, the South Plaza Lawn provides a green space perfect for outdoor programs and seasonal festivities.

Brookhaven City Centre functions as both a center for civic and community engagement and a venue for private events like weddings, fundraisers, retreats, and celebrations. These bookings are coordinated through Explore Brookhaven in partnership with Novare Events, who ensure every occasion is thoughtfully planned and professionally executed.

Brookhaven City Centre will host a robust calendar of community-focused programs that reflect the city’s diversity, creativity, and spirit. The space will serve as a stage for cultural expression, a canvas for local artists, and a platform for neighbors to learn and connect.

Upcoming programming will include:

• Seasonal festivities
• Local art and culture showcases
• Educational workshops
• Public performances
• Wellness classes
• Neighborhood roundtables

Whether it is a casual weekday gathering or a citywide celebration, these events will offer meaningful ways to take part in Brookhaven’s ongoing story and help build a stronger community together.

To celebrate this exciting new chapter, you're invited to the Brookhaven City Centre Grand Opening on Saturday, August 9 from 10:45 AM to 7:00 PM. It is a full day of activities, music, food, and fun designed for all ages and all corners of the community!

Guests can explore the new City Centre through guided building tours, enjoy live entertainment, tasting experiences, kid-friendly fun, and more. The day wraps up with a high-energy concert from Georgia rock legends Jupiter Coyote.

For the full schedule and event details, visit: Brookhaven City Centre Grand Opening

Brookhaven City Centre is more than a building. It is a gathering place, a symbol of progress, and a new home for connection, creativity, and civic pride. Thoughtfully built and designed for all, it stands as The People’s House, a space for Brookhaven to come together today and for generations to come.