131 Ponce de Leon Avenue, Mixed-use building in Midtown Atlanta, United States

131 Ponce de Leon Avenue is a residential complex in Midtown Atlanta whose facade comes from a 1949 building. The location at the corner of Ponce de Leon Avenue and Juniper Street combines modern living with historical elements.

I. M. Pei's first built project, the two-story Gulf Oil Building, opened in 1949 at Ponce de Leon Avenue and Juniper Street. The 50,000-square-foot box drew on Mies van der Rohe's lean rectilinearity. Demolished piece by piece in February 2013, its front portion was reconstructed as the clubhouse and offices of the 131 Ponce de Leon Avenue development.

The preserved facade shows how the city blends old buildings into new projects. Visitors can see how past and present sit side by side here.

The building sits in the heart of Midtown at a busy intersection that is easy to reach on foot. Visitors can see the facade from the street and explore the surrounding neighborhood.

The building shows a rare case where a large commercial structure was converted to housing while keeping its original facade. This outcome is uncommon today, as many old buildings get completely demolished during this process.