Pioneering Architect Leila Ross Wilburn Shaped Midtown Atlanta

Wilburn's apartment designs and plan book business fueled the growth of Piedmont Avenue over 60-year career

Mar. 13, 2026 at 7:00pm

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Pioneering female architect Leila Ross Wilburn is credited with changing the way Atlantans lived in the early 20th century, bringing modern conveniences and charming designs to apartment buildings that still resonate today. Her plan book business spread her ideas across the country and fueled her 60-year career. The Atlanta Preservation Center is hosting a walking tour focused on two of Wilburn's apartment building designs - Wilburn House and Chatam Court (now the Piedmont and Third Condominiums) - to discuss her life, work, and how it fit into the larger development story of Midtown Atlanta's Piedmont Avenue.

Why it matters

Wilburn was a trailblazing female architect in a male-dominated field, and her designs for apartment buildings helped shape the growth and development of Midtown Atlanta's Piedmont Avenue neighborhood over the course of six decades. Her work brought modern amenities and a distinct architectural style to the area, contributing to its transformation into a thriving residential and commercial district.

The details

Wilburn's two featured apartment buildings, Wilburn House and Chatam Court (now the Piedmont and Third Condominiums), showcase her signature design elements, including modern floor plans, charming facades, and amenities like elevators that were uncommon at the time. As participants walk between the two buildings, the tour will explore how Wilburn's work fit into the larger development story of Piedmont Avenue, including the roles of families, developers, and others who helped shape the neighborhood.

  • Leila Ross Wilburn had a 60-year career as an architect, from the early 1900s through the 1960s.
  • The walking tour is taking place on Friday, March 13, 2026 at 3pm.

The players

Leila Ross Wilburn

A pioneering female architect in Atlanta who designed apartment buildings and published plan books that spread her ideas across the country.

The Atlanta Preservation Center

The organization hosting the walking tour focused on Wilburn's architectural legacy and impact on Midtown Atlanta's Piedmont Avenue neighborhood.

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What’s next

The walking tour will provide an in-depth look at two of Wilburn's apartment building designs and how they fit into the larger development story of Piedmont Avenue. Participants will learn more about this pioneering female architect's lasting impact on Atlanta's built environment.

The takeaway

Leila Ross Wilburn was a trailblazing architect whose apartment designs and plan book business helped fuel the growth and transformation of Midtown Atlanta's Piedmont Avenue neighborhood over the course of six decades, leaving a lasting mark on the city's architectural landscape.