Finding “The Circle Building” in Atlanta: What People Usually Mean and How to Get There

If you’ve heard someone in Atlanta mention “the Circle building” and you’re trying to figure out where it is, you’re not alone. Locals, directions apps, and visitors sometimes use that phrase to describe different round or curved buildings around the city, which can be confusing when you’re just trying to get to the right place.

Below is a practical guide to what people in Atlanta often mean by “the Circle building,” how to narrow it down, and how to get to the most commonly referenced locations.

Step One: What Do You Mean by “The Circle Building”?

Because “Circle building” is not an official name for one single landmark in Atlanta, the first step is to pin down the context. When someone says “the Circle building,” they may be talking about:

  • A cylindrical or round-shaped office or apartment building
  • A building that faces a circular road or traffic circle
  • A building that’s part of a named Circle (such as Peachtree Circle, Monroe Circle, or Abernathy Circle)
  • A curved high-rise that looks like a “circle” from the highway

If you’re trying to navigate to a specific place and all you were given was “the Circle building,” it helps to ask:

  • Which part of town? (Downtown, Midtown, Buckhead, Perimeter, etc.)
  • Nearby landmark? (Piedmont Park, Lenox Square, Mercedes-Benz Stadium, etc.)
  • What is in the building? (doctor’s office, apartment, company, restaurant)

Once you know the area and purpose, you can usually match it to a specific Atlanta building that people describe as “the Circle building.”

Common Places Atlantans Call “The Circle Building”

Below are several Atlanta locations that people frequently describe using words like “circle building,” “round building,” or “that curved tower.” If your directions are vague, one of these may be what you’re looking for.

1. Circular and Curved Buildings Along Peachtree (Downtown & Midtown)

Atlanta’s main spine, Peachtree Street, has a number of buildings that are curved or semi-circular, and people sometimes loosely call them “that circle building on Peachtree.”

If someone says “the Circle building” near Downtown or Midtown, they may be referring to:

  • A curved office or hotel building visible from Peachtree Street
  • A round corner building at a major Peachtree intersection
  • A building close to Peachtree Center, Colony Square, or Arts Center that has a noticeably rounded facade

If this sounds like your situation, try to confirm:

Once you know the neighborhood plus “on Peachtree,” mapping apps can usually locate the exact address by adding the business or apartment name housed in that building.

2. Buildings Around Traffic Circles and Roundabouts

Atlanta has a growing number of traffic circles and roundabouts, especially in Inman Park, Old Fourth Ward, West Midtown, and certain residential areas. Locals sometimes say “the Circle building” about:

  • A building that faces the roundabout
  • A property in the middle or edge of a circular drive in an apartment or office complex
  • A new mixed-use building at a roundabout where several streets meet

Common areas where this happens:

  • Inman Park / Old Fourth Ward – around small neighborhood circles and the BeltLine connection points
  • West Midtown – near newer developments where streets and private drives loop into circle-like patterns
  • Residential neighborhoods with small traffic circles where a corner building becomes an easy reference point

If you were told to meet at a “Circle building” near a roundabout, ask:

  • “What’s the intersection?”
  • “Is it near the BeltLine, Ponce City Market, or Howell Mill?”

This usually gives you enough detail to plug the exact cross-streets into GPS.

3. Circle-Related Street Names (Peachtree Circle, Monroe Circle, etc.)

In some cases, “Circle building” is shorthand for “the building on [something] Circle.” Atlanta has multiple streets that end with “Circle NE” or “Circle NW”, especially around Midtown and intown neighborhoods.

Examples of circle street names where people might say “the Circle building”:

  • Peachtree Circle NE – residential and low-rise buildings near Ansley Park and Piedmont Park
  • Monroe Circle NE – small residential streets near Monroe Drive and the east side of Midtown
  • Various “… Circle” streets in Buckhead, Decatur, Virginia-Highland, and surrounding areas

If you know the street name includes “Circle”, the best move is to:

  1. Confirm the full street name (for example, Peachtree Circle NE vs. Peachtree Street NE).
  2. Use a map app with the house or building number plus the Circle street.

4. Curved High-Rises at the Perimeter and Buckhead

From the Downtown Connector (I‑75/85) or GA‑400, you can see several curved or cylindrical towers in Buckhead and the Perimeter area. Drivers sometimes refer to these as “those circle buildings,” especially if they stand out from the highway.

If someone mentions “the Circle building by the highway” and talks about:

  • GA‑400, I‑285, or the Perimeter Mall area
  • Buckhead’s skyline north of Midtown

…they are probably talking about one of the high-rise office or condo towers with a rounded design. Each has its own proper name and exact address, so you’ll want the building’s official name (for example, the name of the condo tower or corporate building) for reliable navigation.

Quick Reference: How to Figure Out Which “Circle Building” You Need

You can use this simple table to narrow down what “the Circle building in Atlanta” might mean in your situation:

What You Know So FarLikely Meaning of “Circle Building”What to Ask Next
“On Peachtree” / “Near Midtown”A curved or rounded Peachtree Street office/hotelAsk for the business or building name.
“By a roundabout / traffic circle”Building facing a traffic circle or roundaboutAsk for the intersection or neighborhood name.
“On ___ Circle” (street name)Building on a street with “Circle” in the nameConfirm full street name and number.
“By Perimeter” or “off 400 / 285”Curved high-rise office or condo at the Perimeter/BuckheadAsk for the tower’s official name.
Only know the company/doctor/agency insideSpecific tenant inside a multi-tenant buildingLook up the office address, not “Circle building.”

How to Get to the Right Circle Building in Atlanta

Once you know which building you’re aiming for, here’s how to actually get there in Atlanta.

Use the Exact Name and Address, Not Just “Circle”

When you search in a navigation app, always try to use:

  • The full building or complex name (for example, “[Building Name] at Peachtree”)
  • The street address, including NE/NW/SE/SW where applicable
  • The suite number, if you’re visiting an office

Atlanta has many similarly named streets, so including NE, NW, SE, or SW reduces wrong turns and avoids ending up in the wrong part of town.

Getting There by Car

If you’re driving to a building someone described as “the Circle building”:

  • Use I‑75/85, I‑20, GA‑400, or I‑285 as your frame of reference and let your app guide you to the exit.
  • Pay attention to parking details:
    • Many office towers and circular buildings in Atlanta use deck parking with ticketed entry.
    • In Midtown and Buckhead, expect paid parking or valet at busy high-rises.
  • If your contact mentions a specific parking garage name or code, enter that into your app—it may differ slightly from the building’s mailing address.

Getting There by MARTA (Rail and Bus)

For many of the buildings people casually call “the Circle building,” MARTA can get you very close, especially if they’re along Peachtree or in Buckhead/Perimeter.

Here’s how to think about it:

  • Downtown / Midtown “Circle” buildings

    • Use Peachtree Center, Civic Center, North Avenue, Midtown, or Arts Center stations (Red/Gold lines).
    • From your station, walk or take a short rideshare to the specific address.
  • Buckhead and some GA‑400 corridor buildings

    • Use Buckhead, Lenox, or Lindbergh Center stations.
    • Many office towers and apartments are a short walk or quick bus/rideshare away.
  • Perimeter-area curved towers

    • Use Dunwoody, Sandy Springs, or Medical Center stations on the Red Line.
    • From there, you may still need to walk across or around I‑285 or use a short rideshare.

If you’re unsure which station is closest to your “Circle building,” you can:

  • Look up the address, then check which MARTA station is nearest on a map.
  • Call the building’s front desk or management office (if available) and ask, “Which MARTA station is closest, and how do I get from the station to your building?”

Tips for Avoiding Confusion When Meeting at “The Circle Building”

To make sure you and the person you’re meeting end up at the same place:

  • Get the official building name
    Ask: “What’s the exact name of the building or complex?”

  • ✅ Confirm the street address
    Request the full address, including NE/NW and the ZIP code when possible.

  • ✅ Ask about landmarks
    For example: “Is it near Piedmont Park, Lenox Square, or Perimeter Mall?”

  • ✅ Clarify the arrival instructions
    Ask where you should park, which entrance to use, and whether there’s a suite or floor number.

  • ✅ If someone only says “the Circle building”
    Follow up with: “Do you mean a round-shaped building, something on a street called Circle, or a building next to a traffic circle?”

These quick questions usually clear up the confusion before you’re already on the road in Atlanta traffic.

In Atlanta, “the Circle building” is a casual description, not a single fixed landmark. To get where you need to go, match the phrase to a neighborhood, nearby roads or MARTA stations, and the official building or business name, then navigate using the full address rather than just the nickname.