Project Overview
A former Trailways Bus station (built ca. 1895) was situated to provide an ideal location for the Macon-Bibb County Convention and Visitors Bureau’s (CVB) new facilities in downtown Macon. The property, retaining its bus-parking slots, is easily accessible from Interstates 16 and 75, and is well within walking distance of the Macon’s entertainment district.
The main floor of the facility now features a customer service and lobby area with exhibits, kiosks, and interactive displays. A 50-seat theater shows videos of local and regional attractions, and the remaining area provides space for offices, storage, and public restrooms. The second floor houses additional offices as well as a conference room. A glass-walled gallery provides light for the main-floor lobby.
This adaptive reuse project, funded in part by a grant from the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and carried out according to the Federal Guidelines for the Rehabilitation of Historic Buildings, gives the CVB the capability to meet the economic development needs of Middle Georgia. Putting this building back to work both boosted Macon’s downtown revitalization efforts and raised the value of surrounding properties. Once a blighted, abandoned bus station, this facility is now revitalized, bringing a multipurpose, state of the art visitor’s center to the heart of Macon’s Historic Business District.