Atlanta Officials Provide Update on Chattahoochee Brick Co. Archaeological Process

City partners with New South Associates to carefully explore site's complex history and prepare for memorial park

Mar. 19, 2026 at 10:30pm

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The City of Atlanta and archaeological firm New South Associates are hosting a public presentation to provide an update on the ongoing investigations at the former Chattahoochee Brick Co. site. The team is using non-invasive techniques like ground-penetrating radar to identify sensitive areas on the land, which has a complex history, while navigating challenges like industrial debris and avoiding disturbance of potential burial sites. As the project moves to its next phase, these preliminary findings will be integrated into the overall concept for transforming the site into a memorial park, led by design firms SCAPE and MASS.

Why it matters

The Chattahoochee Brick Co. site holds deep historical significance, as it was the location of a notorious 19th century brickyard that exploited convict labor, including many African Americans. The city's efforts to carefully study the land and engage with the emerging descendant community are crucial steps toward honoring this history and creating a meaningful memorial space.

The details

The archaeological work at the Chattahoochee Brick Co. site is being led by New South Associates in partnership with the City of Atlanta. The team is using a range of non-invasive techniques, including archival mapping and ground-penetrating radar, to identify sensitive areas on the land while navigating challenges like industrial debris and the need to avoid disturbing potential burial sites. As the project transitions to the next phase, these preliminary findings will be integrated into the overall concept for transforming the site into a memorial park, led by design firms SCAPE Landscape Architecture and MASS Design Group's Public Memory and Memorials Lab.

  • The public presentation is scheduled for Thursday, March 19, 2026 from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm.

The players

New South Associates

An archaeological firm leading the historical research and non-invasive exploration of the Chattahoochee Brick Co. site.

City of Atlanta

The local government partnering with New South Associates on the Chattahoochee Brick Co. project and hosting the public presentation.

SCAPE Landscape Architecture

The design firm leading the overall planning and transformation of the Chattahoochee Brick Co. site into a memorial park.

MASS Design Group's Public Memory and Memorials Lab

The design firm that will ensure the site's transformation is guided by a thoughtful approach that prioritizes the sanctity of the land and input from the emerging descendant community.

Joe Joseph

A representative from New South Associates who will be presenting at the public event.

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What they’re saying

“The archaeological investigations of the Chattahoochee Brick Co. site are centered on a respectful, non-invasive exploration of the land's complex history.”

— Joe Joseph, Representative, New South Associates

What’s next

As the project transitions into its next phase, the preliminary findings from the archaeological work will be carefully integrated and interpreted into the overall concept for transforming the Chattahoochee Brick Co. site into a memorial park.

The takeaway

The City of Atlanta's thoughtful approach to studying and honoring the complex history of the Chattahoochee Brick Co. site, in partnership with archaeological and design experts, represents an important step toward creating a meaningful memorial that acknowledges the site's dark past and uplifts the stories of those who were exploited there.