Location & Travel

Atlanta, Georgia,

Better known as the City in a Forest, or the ATL, was founded in 1836 by the Georgia General Assembly by driving the “Zero Milepost” of the railroad link between the port of Savannah and the Midwest in what is now downtown Atlanta. The first settlement around the milepost was known as Terminus, then Thrasherville, later incorporated as Atlanta in 1847.

By the 1860’s Atlanta had a population of over 10,000 and, as a nexus of multiple railroads, had become a strategic hub for the distribution of military supplies during the American Civil War. In the closing days of the war Sherman prepared for the Union Army’s March to the Sea by ordering the destruction of Atlanta, burning much of the city to the ground.

During the 20th century Atlanta has earnt its city seal of the Phoenix, now home to over 5 million people, it is ranked in the top twenty among world cities. Atlanta has a diverse economy, with dominant secors that include aerospace, transportation, logistics, media, medical services, public health and information technologies.

Atlanta has a dynamic, distinctly Southern culture, and acts as a hub for an increasingly multi-cultural metropolitan area. While traditional Southern values are part of Atlanta’s cultural fabric, it is mostly as a backdrop to one of the nations most cosmopolitan cities. This unique cultural combination reveals itself in a series of distinct neighborhoods, from the arts district of Midtown, to Little Five Points and Buford Highway.

Atlanta has been nicknamed the “Silicon Peach” due to the burgeoning science, engineering and technology sectors, driven in no small part by the Wealth of graduates from the Georgia Institute of Technology, your host for ICOT-2020

How to get here

Public Transit (MARTA)

Take the Red or Gold train to the Midtown MARTA station. Then, catch the free Tech Trolley. We’re the first stop before the trolley enters the main Georgia Tech campus. Cross the street, go through the courtyard to enter the Center. The trolley runs every six minutes from 7:30 a.m. until 7 p.m., Monday through Friday during fall and spring semesters. For more trolley information, visit www.pts.gatech.edu/bus001, then follow the Tech Trolley link.

Driving

From the Atlanta Airport or south Atlanta (Interstate 75/85 north):
Take Interstate 75/85 north to the 10th/14th Street exit (Exit 250). Continue straight for .1 mile on Williams Street and turn right onto 10th Street. Travel 0.1 mile and turn right onto Spring Street. Travel approximately 0.4 miles on Spring Street to Fifth Street (Barnes & Noble at Georgia Tech Bookstore on your left and the Georgia Tech Hotel on your right), then proceed a half block farther and turn right at the next light into the parking deck. Park on the second level (blue level). From there, enter the Georgia Tech Global Learning Center.

From northeast or northwest Atlanta (Interstate 75/85 south)*: Take Interstate 75/85 south to the Techwood Drive/14th Street/10th Street exit (Exit 84 for 85 south or Exit 250 for 75 south). Turn left on 14th Street. Travel 0.2 mile and turn right on Spring Street. Travel about 0.7 mile on Spring Street to Fifth Street (Barnes & Noble at Georgia Tech Bookstore on your left and the Georgia Tech Hotel on your right), then proceed half block farther and turn right at the next light into the parking deck. Park on the second level (blue level). From there, enter the Georgia Tech Global Learning Center.
*If you are coming from north Atlanta, take Georgia 400 south to Interstate 75/85.

From east or west of Atlanta (Interstate 20): Take Interstate 20 to Interstate 75/85 north to the 10th/14th Street exit (Exit 250). Continue straight for 0.1 mile on Williams Street and turn right onto 10th Street. Travel 0.1 mile and turn right onto Spring Street. Travel approximately 0.4 mile on Spring Street to Fifth Street (Barnes & Noble at Georgia Tech Bookstore on your left and the Georgia Tech Hotel on your right), then proceed a half block farther and turn right at the next light into the parking deck. Park on the second level (blue level). From there, enter the Georgia Tech Global Learning Center.