Assembly Atlanta: What It Is, Where It Is, and How It Fits Into Atlanta Life

If you live in metro Atlanta or you’re planning a visit, you may have heard the name Assembly Atlanta come up in conversations about movies, concerts, or redevelopment in the suburbs. It can sound a bit mysterious if you’re not already familiar with the local film scene or the Doraville area.

Here’s a clear, Atlanta-focused guide to what Assembly Atlanta is, where it’s located, what happens there, and what it might mean for you as a resident, visitor, or nearby business.

What Is Assembly Atlanta?

Assembly Atlanta is a large mixed-use development and production campus being built on the former General Motors plant site in Doraville, just northeast of the city of Atlanta.

At its core, Assembly Atlanta is:

• A major film and television production hub
• A mixed-use district with plans for office, retail, dining, and entertainment
• A long-term redevelopment project transforming an old industrial site into a new urban-style destination

While parts of the project are still evolving, the overall idea is to create a space where entertainment production, business, and leisure all coexist—similar in feel to some of the other big studio and mixed-use projects around the metro, but with its own identity tied strongly to Doraville and northeast Atlanta.

Where Is Assembly Atlanta Located?

Assembly Atlanta is in Doraville, Georgia, just outside the Atlanta city limits in DeKalb County.

Approximate location:

• Area: Former GM plant site in Doraville
• Nearby highways: Close to I-285 and I-85 (the “Spaghetti Junction” area)
• Nearby transit: Near the Doraville MARTA Station on the Gold Line

If you’re used to ITP/OTP language:

• It’s OTP, but just barely—right at the northeastern edge of the Perimeter.
• For many intown Atlantans, it’s a straight shot up I-85 or via MARTA to Doraville.

Because the campus is large and still developing, different sections may have separate access points or parking areas. If you’re headed there for a specific purpose (e.g., a job, a tour, or an event), it’s smart to confirm exact directions and entrance details with the organizer beforehand.

Why Does Assembly Atlanta Matter to People in Atlanta?

Even if you never step foot on the property, Assembly Atlanta can affect life in the metro area in several ways:

• Film & TV presence: Atlanta is already a major production center. Assembly Atlanta adds another sizable, purpose-built campus that can host shows, films, and live production.
• Jobs & contracting: Productions and support businesses on-site can create opportunities for crew members, tradespeople, caterers, security, and other service providers in and around Atlanta.
• Traffic & development: A major new hub often leads to increased traffic, new housing, restaurants, and retail nearby, potentially changing the feel and cost of living around Doraville and adjacent neighborhoods.
• Entertainment & events: As more of the mixed-use elements open, Atlantans may gain new dining, event, and entertainment options in the northeast corridor.

For many people, Assembly Atlanta is part of the broader story of how metro Atlanta is transitioning from an industrial past into a creative and technology-oriented economy.

Is Assembly Atlanta Open to the Public?

This is one of the most common questions locals have.

Production vs. Public Access

Assembly Atlanta is primarily a working production campus, which means:

• Many areas—especially soundstages, production offices, and backlot sets—are not open to general walk-in visitors.
• Security is usually tight around active filming locations, just like at other studios in the Atlanta area.

However, as the mixed-use areas (such as retail, entertainment, or dining spaces) expand, certain parts of the development are expected to become public-facing, similar to how other large Atlanta developments mix private office or studio space with public plazas, restaurants, and event venues.

If you’re interested in visiting:

• Look for announced events, concerts, or festivals hosted at Assembly or branded with the Assembly name.
• Check whether your visit is connected to a job, tour, ticketed event, or invitation, rather than assuming you can freely roam studio zones.

Getting to Assembly Atlanta from Around Metro Atlanta

While exact access points and parking details can change as different phases open, here’s how Assembly Atlanta generally fits into the local transportation landscape.

By Car

From Midtown/Downtown Atlanta:

• Take I-85 North toward Greenville.
• Continue to the Spaghetti Junction (I-85/I-285 interchange) area.
• Follow signs toward Doraville / I-285 East or local exits that serve the Doraville area near the former GM plant site.

From the Perimeter (Northside):

• From central Perimeter (e.g., Dunwoody/Sandy Springs), take I-285 East around toward Doraville.
• Exit toward Doraville and follow local roads to the Assembly site.

Because the area around I-85 and I-285 is already known for congestion during rush hours, allow extra travel time, especially on weekday mornings and late afternoons.

By MARTA

Doraville MARTA Station is the northern terminus of the Gold Line and is near the Assembly site.

General route:

• From Downtown, Midtown, or Buckhead, take the Gold Line northbound toward Doraville.
• Exit at Doraville Station.
• From there, depending on how the campus is operating at the time, you may have:
  • A short walk or
  • A shuttle or rideshare ride to specific parts of Assembly.

If MARTA access to Assembly becomes more structured (e.g., dedicated shuttles or signed walking routes), that information is typically available through transit info channels or event organizers.

How Assembly Atlanta Fits Into Atlanta’s Film & TV Scene

Atlanta has several big production hubs and studio campuses across the metro area. Assembly Atlanta is part of that ecosystem.

What Happens at Assembly from a Production Standpoint?

On the production side, Assembly Atlanta is designed to support:

• Soundstages for indoor filming
• Backlot-style sets and outdoor filming spaces
• Production offices and support services
• Post-production or auxiliary functions, depending on tenant needs

For Atlantans working in the industry, this can translate into:

• New job postings for crew and staff
• Additional vendor and contractor opportunities
• More productions staying in-town or close-in suburbs, rather than traveling far outside the city

How It Compares to Other Atlanta Studios

Without getting into specific competitors, Assembly Atlanta is:

• Similar in scale and purpose to other large production campuses in the region
• Uniquely positioned on a formerly industrial site with direct access to major highways and MARTA, which is useful for both logistics and talent

For the average Atlanta resident, that primarily means more filming in and around town, more “no parking” film notices in certain neighborhoods, and more chances to spot production activity or temporary set builds.

If You Live Near Doraville: What to Expect

If you live in Doraville, Chamblee, Norcross, or nearby neighborhoods, Assembly Atlanta may have a more direct impact on your daily life than if you’re in another part of the metro.

Possible Local Changes

Residents and nearby businesses commonly watch for:

• Increased traffic around key intersections and I-285/I-85 exits
• More development pressure, including new apartments, townhomes, and mixed-use projects
• A growing presence of production trucks, trailers, and basecamps on area roads
• New restaurants, coffee shops, and service businesses seeking to serve workers and visitors at Assembly

Some people see these changes as a positive sign of reinvestment; others watch carefully for shifts in housing affordability, parking availability, and neighborhood character.

Who to Contact About Local Impacts

If you have concerns or questions about zoning, traffic, or neighborhood impacts around Assembly Atlanta, you might look to:

• City of Doraville

  • City Hall address (at time of writing):
    3725 Park Avenue
    Doraville, GA 30340
  • Main phone (general information): typically listed as the City of Doraville’s main number on official city materials.

• DeKalb County departments (for broader infrastructure and planning topics affecting the area)

These local governments can often explain public meeting schedules, rezoning actions, infrastructure improvements, and ways to share feedback.

Opportunities for Jobs and Business with Assembly-Related Activity

Assembly Atlanta sits at the intersection of film, construction, hospitality, and real estate, which creates a variety of opportunities in and around Atlanta.

For Film & TV Workers

If you’re already in or entering the film industry:

• Many productions hiring at Assembly will post on standard Atlanta-area production job boards, casting calls, and crew lists.
• Union and guild members often learn about work through their usual channels, with Assembly simply being one of several possible shooting locations around town.

Positions may include:

• Grips, electrics, carpenters, and set dressers
• Hair, makeup, wardrobe, and art department roles
• Production assistants, coordinators, and office staff
• Security, transportation, catering, and cleaning services

For Local Businesses and Contractors

Nearby or Atlanta-based businesses can sometimes benefit by:

• Providing catering, food trucks, or craft services
• Offering equipment rental, set construction, fabrication, or specialty trades
• Supporting the campus and its tenants with IT, security, cleaning, landscaping, or logistics

If you own a business in Atlanta and want to work with productions that may be at Assembly Atlanta, you might:

1. Make sure your company is clearly findable and well-labeled as serving Atlanta’s film and production industry.
2. Network through industry groups, local chambers of commerce, or film-friendly business associations.
3. Keep an eye on public contact points for productions or property management where vendor applications may occasionally be accepted.

Visiting for Events, Concerts, or Experiences

As the mixed-use parts of Assembly Atlanta roll out, some Atlantans are curious about visiting for fun rather than for work.

What Kinds of Events Might Occur?

Depending on how the site is ultimately programmed, possibilities could include:

• Concerts or live shows at on-site venues or outdoor spaces
• Film-related events, premieres, or special screenings
• Festivals, markets, or brand activations using parts of the campus

In most cases, these would be ticketed or scheduled events, not drop-in experiences.

How to Stay Informed

To find out about public-facing activities at or around Assembly Atlanta:

• Watch local Atlanta event calendars and entertainment listings.
• Follow Atlanta- and Doraville-focused news outlets that cover development and events.
• Check event details closely for:
  • Exact address and entry points
  • Parking instructions or MARTA guidance
  • Any security or bag policies, which can be stricter on or near studio grounds

Always confirm at the time you’re planning to go, since large campuses can open, close, or reconfigure specific venues and outdoor spaces.

Quick Reference: Assembly Atlanta at a Glance

How Atlantans Can Think About Assembly Atlanta Going Forward

Assembly Atlanta is still evolving, and its full long-term impact will unfold over several years. For people who live in or visit the Atlanta area, it is useful to see it as:

• A new anchor for the Doraville corridor
• Another pillar of the broader Atlanta film and TV industry
• A potential destination for future dining, entertainment, and events, depending on how the mixed-use plans are built out

If you’re an Atlanta resident, keeping an eye on announcements related to Assembly—especially from the City of Doraville and Atlanta-area news sources—can help you understand new opportunities, traffic changes, or community meetings that relate to this major project in the metro.