Flatiron Building
Atlanta, GA
Photo courtesy Paul Bauke

Standing at the intersection of Peachtree and Broad Streets is one of Atlanta's most unusual buildings. The pointed shape of the Flatiron Building almost looks like the bow of a ship squeezing its way through downtown traffic. It's one of those buildings that makes you stop for a minute and take another look. 04-09

Built in 1897 as the English-American Building, it is the oldest steel-framed skyscraper still standing in Atlanta. Even more impressive, it was completed five years before New York's famous Flatiron Building. During the 1996 Summer Olympics, the pointed front of the building was covered with a giant gold medal, making an already recognizable landmark even harder to miss.

UPDATE: The Flatiron Building has been restored and remains in use as office space and an innovation hub, while its distinctive wedge-shaped profile continues to stand out in downtown Atlanta. 08-26