Around the early 1900s, people in the United States were becoming more and more educated. With the demanding nature of the working class job, most Americans found it difficult to further their education. As a result the Georgia Institute of Technology decided to open a branch of its university in the downtown area as an evening school. The downtown sector very quickly became a popular college of choice for many Atlantans. To accomodate such a rapid increase in enrollment, the school had to undergo many renovations and relocations in order to increase its potential capacity. The unexpected success of the school forever changed the landscape and the built environment of downtown. Previously a place with a less than perfect reputation, the area was now an urban hub once again. Students of all ages roamed the streets as the night school transitioned in to a day school in the 1930s and 1940s. Increasing foot traffic led to a new influx of restaurants, shops, and bars in the nearby area, many of which were located on Broad Street, which is still a popular spot for students today. Noting its success, the Univeristy of Georgia bought the rights to claim this flourishing institution in 1952. This merger brought an entirely new range of programs and majors offered in the downtown campus. As a result of its vast success, the school eventually fought for its independence as a university. In 1969, the fought was won, and Georgia State officially became a soveriegn university.

Source 1: http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/articles/education/georgia-state-university

The expansion of Georgia State throughout the city is clear when walking around the downtown sector. The open-style campus extends from MLK Jr. Drive, across from the capitol, all the way down to Broad Street, going as wide to Bell Street and Underground Atlanta on either side. Back in 1949, when the university was under the title of the University of Georgia, Atlanta Division, the school took up one small building between Decatur Street and Hurt Park. This building still stands today, known by current students and staff as Kell Hall.

From this small building, Georgia State has expanded outward in all directions. Classroom South and the Petit Science Center stand as the farthest points in the westward direction, the title of which will have to be given to Turner Field within the next year. Southward, across I-75 and I-85, lies the practice fields, making the border between Georgia State and the Grant Park neighborhood. The creation of the Aderhold Learning Center pushed the boundary northward to the corner of Luckie Street and Forsyth Street. And to the east, the University Commons housing ends the campus right before hitting the interstate. The entire campus encompasses about 518 acres of land, covering the majority of downtown. The inclusion of Aderhold into the campus has made the Fairlie-Poplar area a major part of campus. The historic district features a plethora of international foods where students often go for food between classes. The cobblestone streets add a quaint, historic element to the campus, and it also serves as a place that is filled with not only students, but Atlanta residents and businessmen alike.

Having such close proximity to larger businesses, especially Georgia Pacific, the downtown sector has not been completely dominated by student life. One of the best qualities about Georgia State is the inclusive campus style that allows for contact with everyday people, not just students, faculty, and staff. In this manor, Georgia State is able to accurately capture what life in the downtown sector is like. Many other urban campuses claim to offer this effect, but when they are closed off, such as Georgia Tech, there is not much room for interaction between all walks of life.

Since around 2009, the Georgia State campus has extended its borders to include a larger part of the city. Instead of dominating the area, however, the university and the downtown area have a largely symbiotic relationship. The university has very clearly reshaped downtown , both physically and culturally. The extension of the campus into other parts of the city have brought exposure to working life, different cultures, and the historic nature of the city. Georgia State has also brought students further in the city, providing more small businesses and restaurants with a larger clientele. The physical effect on the city is obvious, shown in the form of the increasing presence of the Georgia State symbol emblazoned on streets, signs, and buildings. As a result, downtown has been rejuvenated, pushing back against the encroaching abandoned and decaying city. The presence of Georgia State’s renovations bring fresh, new buildings to downtown. Through the expansion of Georgia State, the rhetoric of the built environment of the downtown sector has changed from one of decay and demolition to one of prosperity and progressiveness.