Work has officially begun on our newest project–Henderson Place! This week, crews are completing some extensive demolition. Henderson Place is a 74,000 sf, four-story, mixed-use building in Atlanta. It is a redevelopment of a 1950’s apartment complex in the Old Fourth Ward. Once completed, the building will include a lobby, community room, administrative offices, restrooms, storage, building operation/mechanical space, multifamily residential units and ground level retail spaces.
In Tuesday night’s City of Brookhaven Council meeting, the council unanimously voted to select Sovereign/Cooper Joint Venture as the general contractor for improvements to the city’s Briarwood Park.
The $4.6 million project will include reconstructing the recreation center parking lot, stormwater improvements, a community garden, and a loop trail through the park. Additionally, the project will include a 100’ foot bridge, modular walls, landscaping, and sidewalks.
“We are looking forward to working with the City of Brookhaven and getting started on these improvements to Briarwood Park,” Sovereign/Cooper President Ray Neal said. “These improvements will elevate the park and allow families and residents even more amenities to enjoy.”
The project is scheduled to begin in October and will take about 10 months to complete.
ATLANTA, GA–Two top-tier commercial construction firms in Georgia are combining forces to bring together more than 80 years of superior experience.
Cooper & Company General Contractors Inc., celebrating its 55th year in the industry, and Sovereign Construction & Development, an Atlanta-based general construction firm specializing in renovations, historic preservations and LEED certifications, have recently joined together to form the joint venture, Sovereign Cooper. The firm will be led by industry veterans and Principals, Michael Hatcher, Steve Cooper and Jim Cooper.
“Cooper & Company and Sovereign Construction have enjoyed working together the past few years,” Steve Cooper said. “Now more than ever seemed like the perfect time to combine our forces and launch this venture.”
Forming Sovereign Cooper allows both firms to each elevate their strengths while taking on a broader market of work. Cooper & Company has spent much of its 55 years in business constructing award-winning work for public safety, municipal administration, office and retail; while Sovereign Construction has a high-end, specialty focus in historic renovations, multi-family housing and interiors.
“Forming this partnership brings together a unique set of strengths and attributes that will set us apart going into the future,” Michael Hatcher said.
The first project Sovereign Cooper will construct is The Front Porch on Auburn Avenue, a $20 million, four-story, mixed-use development in downtown Atlanta.
“The Front Porch on Auburn Avenue is a great project to start our joint venture together,” Jim Cooper said. “This development will showcase the attributes of both our firms by providing the city of Atlanta with a fantastic place for folks to live, work and play while also preserving the deep culture and historic elements of Auburn Avenue. We are honored to get to play a part in this work.”
Going forward, Sovereign Cooper will operate as a full-service construction firm providing clients and owners with their choice of construction management, general contracting or design build opportunities. The company will maintain a focus on mixed-use developments, public safety, historic preservations as well as retail and municipal projects. For more information, visit sovereigncooper.com. You may also visit coopergc.com or sovereigncd.com for information on each firm.
Atlanta, GA–A commercial construction industry veteran will be taking over the reigns of the newly formed firm, Sovereign Cooper.
Ray Neal, who currently serves as Director of Operations with Cooper & Company, was named President of Sovereign Cooper this week.
Ray joined Cooper in 2010 and has more than 20 years of construction experience. He has managed and coordinated the safety activities for various construction projects specializing in large scale facilities including K12, Higher Education, Transportation, Municipal, Aquatic, Office, and Retail. His history speaks to his proven track record of cultivating relationships with clients and team members leading to many successful projects.
“Ray is an excellent communicator who truly understands the value of working with the clients’ individual needs and job site to ensure that the project is not only successful on paper but in the field,” Sovereign Cooper Principal Steve Cooper said. “He goes into every single project with the objective of having satisfied clients and successful projects.”
A graduate of Georgia Institute of Technology, Ray has a bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering and Construction Management. “I’m looking forward to taking on this new challenge with Sovereign Cooper,” Ray said. “We have some great opportunities moving forward and can’t wait to get started.”
Atlanta, GA–Sovereign Cooper Joint Venture will soon break ground on its latest project.
Construction on The Front Porch at Sweet Auburn is set to begin in early summer. The $20.5-million project is owned by the Historic District Development Corporation. HDDC is one of Atlanta’s oldest surviving community development corporations and the only non-profit organization specifically dedicated to preserving the availability of affordable housing in the Old Fourth Ward district. For nearly four decades, HDDC has been a catalyst for equitable urban revitalization in Atlanta.
The Front Porch is a three-story mixed-use development set to be completed in early 2024. The space will include 34 apartment units ranging from one to three bedrooms as well as room for restaurants and retail options on the first floor. It also includes a roof-level set with amenities. The project also includes the renovation of a former funeral home building into a speakeasy as part of the entertainment offerings.
At roughly 100,000 SF, The Front Porch will have a portion of the apartment units designated as affordable housing. According to HDDC, the name of the project, Front Porch, pays homage to the communal spirit of the corridor and will be the first major revitalization project in the corridor in 15 years.
“We’re excited to break ground on a project that will revitalize and maintaining the historic significance of Auburn Avenue,” Sovereign Cooper Principal Jim Cooper said. “This is a great opportunity to showcase the unique strengths our firm will bring to this project by incorporating new construction with historic preservation.”
