Painting a New Chapter at The CTR ATL, Former CNN Center
“Where the City Meets” Mural by artist John Tindel. Located at the CTR ATL
The former CNN Center in Atlanta is rich in history. It has seen breaking news, championship celebrations, concerts, and crowds pouring in for games and events. Now it has a new name and a new future as The CTR ATL.
I was invited to create a mural in the sales office that looks out toward the main atrium. My goal was to make a wall that told the story of this building and the city around it.
From CNN Center to The CTR ATL
For years, the CNN Center was more than a workplace. It was a downtown landmark. Visitors rode the long escalator into the newsroom. Locals met there before events at State Farm Arena, Centennial Olympic Park, and the Georgia World Congress Center.
When The CTR took over, the vision was to refresh the building and shape a new kind of mixed-use destination. The past still matters, but the focus is now on what comes next for downtown Atlanta.
That idea sat at the center of the mural. Respect the history. Show the future.
Millions visit CNN Center, touring CNN’s studios and watching live broadcasts from viewing galleries
Working With ASHA Advisory and The CTR
I partnered with ASHA Advisory and The CTR to shape the concept. I worked closely with Neda Abghari at ASHA Advisory. Neda is sharp, organized, and also very kind. She helped guide the project and made the whole process feel smooth and collaborative.
The sales office is a key room. It is where tours start and where people hear the vision for The CTR ATL. We wanted the mural to do some of that talking before anyone opened a slide deck.
The brief:
Highlight iconic pieces of Atlanta
Recognize the legacy of the CNN Center
Use The CTR brand language in the design
Keep the tone bright, confident, and rooted in the city
Designing the Wall: A Visual Map of Atlanta
I created the artwork in Adobe Illustrator and Procreate. I treated the wall like a map of Atlanta energy. The mural stretches across the room and wraps the corner. Curved shapes carry your eye from one side to the other.
Some of the elements in the design:
The phrase “WHERE ATLANTA MEETS”, reflects how this building has always pulled people together
Suggestions of the downtown skyline, State Farm Arena, and nearby buildings
CNN references that quietly point back to the site’s news history
Symbols for Atlanta sports, HBCU pride, and the creative side of the city
The shapes link together so nothing feels isolated. Everything belongs to the same story.
Using Oculus to Bring the Drawing to the Wall
One of my favorite parts of this project was the way I transferred the design to the wall. Instead of drawing everything by hand on site, I used my Oculus headset to cast the digital drawing directly onto the surface.
This let me see the artwork at full scale and trace the main shapes with real precision. It lined up perfectly and saved me several days of sketching and correcting lines. It also kept the design very close to the original files I created in Illustrator and Procreate.
Building The CTR Brand Into the Mural
The mural needed to feel like part of The CTR ATL brand. I did that through:
Color. I used The CTR colors and blended them with muted greens, rust oranges, blues, and soft neutrals. The mix feels modern but still warm.
Graphic forms. Circles, badges, and type blocks echo the visual style that The CTR uses in its marketing.
Placement around screens. The shapes frame the televisions and wall displays so the tech and the art feel connected rather than in competition.
At the end, the room looks like a branded environment, not just a room that happens to have a painting.
Painting in the Middle of a Movie Set
The mural took about two weeks to complete. During that time, the building had another layer of activity. A Will Ferrell movie was filming on site, and parts of the center were dressed as movie sets.
So each day I would walk through lights, props, and film crews to get to my wall. It was a strange and fun mix. One side of the building was becoming a film. My part of the building was becoming a permanent piece of art.
Finishing Touches: Matte Varnish and Real Life Light
The room has large screens and a lot of light sources, so I had to think about how the surface would react. After the painting was complete, I sealed the mural with a matte varnish.
This finish protects the artwork but does not bounce light back into the room. There is no harsh glare from the TVs or fixtures. People can sit at the table, look around, and see the artwork clearly from any angle.
A Room That Holds the Past and Faces Forward
Now, when someone walks into the sales office at The CTR ATL, they see more than a blank wall. They see:
A nod to CNN Center and the role it played in 24 hour news
A picture of downtown Atlanta and the culture around it
A visual preview of the next chapter for this address
My hope is that the mural feels like Atlanta in motion. It remembers where the building has been and looks confidently toward what it will become.
I am grateful to The CTR, ASHA Advisory, and especially Neda Abghari for trusting me with this wall. It is an honor to leave a permanent mark inside such a historic space in my city.
